The actions of the Public Health Coalition (PHC) have dramatically increased recognition by the public and the authorities to the influence of pollution on health in Israel. In addition, we have witnessed a more positive attitude from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Health toward demanding reduction of industrial pollution.

The PHC has achieved recognition as an organization whose demands are based in sound science. Over the past decade we have cultivated cooperative relationships with various local and national authorities. We are often consulted and are considered a reliable source of information. The PHC has also developed strong connections with the media and are able to put environmental-health issues on the media's agenda.

Consultants in professional milieus

• The national plan, legislated in The Clean Air Act, to reduce pollutants in the air is in the preparation stages. PHC has a representative who participates in the committees of industry and transportation. The national plan is scheduled to be presented to the government in November 2011.

• Recommendation to the Haifa office of the Ministry of Environmental Protection to introduce more modern technology in the LDAR (Leak Detection and Repair) program in the Haifa Refinery complex. Trials began in June 2011 at Carmel Olefins.

• Knesset Committees. In 2011 we participated in numerous discussions in various Knesset Committess. These included topics such as: discussions on The Clean Air Act and its regulations; regulations of industry; radiation from cellular telephones; energy; transportation; transport of hazardous materials; guidelines to limit of the pollutants emission; the Transport Registration Act.

• Haifa Oil Refinery. The PHC has maintained Observer Status in the sub-committee for planning and building since November 2010. Prior to that date we were unable to receive protocols of the meetings.

• Accompanying field-workers of The Ministry for Environmental Protection, to observe their work with modern monitoring devices, for example the GC/MS.

• Participation in The Municipal Forum for Epidemiology Monitoring in Haifa Bay Area. The project is funded by the regional and municipal authorities of the region and will be implemented during 2011-2012.

• A Knesset committee on environment and health was established in 2009, to a great extent as a result of the activities of the Coalition.

Public awareness

• In 2001, based on analysis of data collected by the Ministry of Health, the PHC was the first to publicize the connection between excess morbidity and air pollution in the Haifa area.

• The PHC website has become a "must" environmentalist community with a rapidly expanding readership. Over 1500 followers receive our monthly newsletter. Our number of Facebook followers doubled within six months.

• PHC, together with other social and environmental organizations, participates in a major campaign concerning environmental health in the peripheral areas of Israel. The campaign calls for steps to narrow the gaps in health between the wealthy communities in the center of Israel and the poorer communities in the periphery.

• Brought two prominent lecturers on Environmental Health from the United States to speak: Professor Linda Birnbaum and Professor Francine Laden. They lectured in Haifa, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on environmental health in the United States and the conclusions we can draw and implement in Israel, in particular in the outlying areas of Israel and with groups most sensitive to air-pollution: children, women and the elderly. Presented a lecture concerning  policy-making in regard to environmental health and how to implement it in Israel and the West Bank. Read more (Hebrew) >>

• The PHC encouraged and pressured the Ministry of Environmental Protection to publish the Shafir Recommendations on the storage of hazardous materials in Haifa Bay.

• Media: the PHC is regularly quoted in the written and electronic media, the radio and television. We are connected to a network of journalists who report on our activities and turn to us with professional requests. For example, we initiated a debate on the necessity for the authorities to require the bulk  storage of LPG in underground containers in the Haifa Bay area.

Public out-reach

• The Coalition has supported many successful struggles to reduce emissions of industrial pollutants a Carmel Chemicals in Atlit, the Haifa Oil Refineries and Carmel Olefins in the Haifa Bay area, and Hod Metals in Acre. In 2010, we helped local residents influence their local government to cancel approval of plans to establish a polluting factory in the Beit Shan valley.

• A major demonstration against the storage of numerous hazardous materials occurred in Haifa on Friday, December 31, 2010, with 400 participants.

• The general public contacts the PHC via phone, email, website, and during outreach activities. We field at least 2-3 information requests per week, generally focused on two main issues: Air pollution (what pollutants are in my neighborhood; how can I find information on the internet; where is a healthy neighborhood to buy a new house; etc.), and contact with the authorities: the Ministry for Environmental Protection and The Municipal Unions of Environment throughout the country.

Natural gas for the North of Israel

Since 2005, the PHC has advocated giving national priority to supplying the Haifa Bay plants and institutions with natural gas. This will significantly reduce emissions of pollutants and greatly improve the quality of the air. The infrastructure was completed on February 2011, and the Coalition began a campaign calling on the Ministry for Infrastructure to expand the network of pipelines to more factories and institutions. The campaign included a well-quoted position-paper, media coverage, lectures and seminars.

Information Center – reports and position-papers

• In 2009, the PHC published a preliminary study on the economic cost of environmental pollution as well as impact of environmental pollution on children.

• In 2011, the PHC published a report on the economic cost of hazardous-materials accidents (fires, leaks, explosions).

• In 2011, the PHC published a report on dioxins emphasizing the need to decrease the level of dioxins in the air and food. This report was presented to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ministry of Health.

• By the end of 2011, PHC will publish a unique report on air-pollution and women: the impact of chemicals on women and their health. By putting the spotlight on this population, the largest group in society, we will show how women have special susceptibilities and modes of exposure that have not been taken into account in legislation and environmental policy.