The air pollution in Shoham: “Suffocating, burning in the eyes

The Ministry of Health yesterday (Monday) issued an unusual warning to the residents of the Hadrim neighborhood in Shoham due to an unusual increase in the benzene concentrations recorded in the area. In the message given to the residents this morning, it was stated that “a high concentration of benzene above the standard was recorded in Shoham”, and in the meantime they were given clear instructions on how to conduct themselves until the pollution levels decrease: closing the windows and ventilation doors of the house, avoiding physical activity outside or spending a long time outside, especially for children, pregnant women, adults and heart and lung patients. The educational institutions were also instructed to limit outdoor activity and stay in well-ventilated indoor spaces, until receiving further updates from the authorities.

“The quality of life has been completely destroyed. You can’t sit outside or breathe”

Amit Efergan, a resident of the city’s Hadrim neighborhood, describes the daily reality of suffocation. “It burns in the throat, you feel it in seconds,” she tells Mako Health. According to her, even inside the house, a burning sensation is felt in the eyes, and the worst damage is among children and disadvantaged populations.

Efergan emphasizes that the phenomenon is not limited to Shoham alone, but is also felt in Modi’in and nearby settlements. “It’s not a one-time thing,” she says. “For months we have been locking ourselves in the houses from the afternoon hours. We can’t go out. It’s suffocating and thick smoke that scatters everything.” She explains that this is the burning of electronic waste. “The quality of life has been completely destroyed. You can’t sit outside or breathe.”

She adds that she is raising a three-month-old baby and a four-year-old girl, and has to postpone leaving the house until the smell and particles have dissipated. “Today I only took them to kindergarten at 11 o’clock, because in the morning we were locked in the house,” says Efergan. “It’s definitely disturbing – benzene is one of the most problematic pollutants and it has no smell at all.” According to her, the data from the new monitoring station in Shoham indicate deviations “by tens of percent of the standard”.

“A systemic problem that requires an immediate response”

The headquarters of the fight to prevent terrorism told Mako Health that: “The unusual pollution incidents in Shoham and nearby settlements illustrate that the problem is not one-off but systemic, and requires an immediate and multi-level response.” According to them, in the short term, determined enforcement is required, including the arrest of those involved and the blocking of access to the waste and incineration sites, in order to stop the immediate damage to the residents’ health. Also, in the medium term, it is necessary, according to them, to evacuate the existing waste sites using anti-aircraft guns, in order to prevent the fires from returning and to reduce the sources of pollution. In the long term, according to the headquarters of the struggle, the only solution is the establishment of regulated waste landfills in the Palestinian Authority – a move that, according to them, will address the root of the problem and prevent the continuation of the burning of carcinogenic waste. “Without the implementation of the three moves together, residents will continue to suffocate in their homes and the damage to public health will continue,” they emphasize.

Haim Bibs, Mayor of Modi’in and Chairman of the local government, tells Mako Health that the phenomenon is not limited to Shoham, but is present in the entire south of Hefar Valley – Kochav Yair, Rosh Ha’in, Kfar Saba, Modi’in and Shoham. According to him, in recent days he has held meetings with the commander of the Central Command and with the Chief of Staff of the Civil Administration, and on Thursday he will hold an urgent meeting with the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Finance along with the heads of the authorities along the line the seam

Bibbs points out that the treatment must begin with extinguishing the fires and clearing the incinerators and landfills, along with stopping the Israeli waste trucks that take advantage of the transition to Area C.