Benzene Spike Recorded Near Haifa Following Maintenance at Gadiv Plant
A benzene standard exceedance was recorded in Kiryat Benjamin due to maintenance at Gadiv, prompting immediate shutdown and calls for plant closure.
A daily standard exceedance for benzene, a proven carcinogen, was recorded on Thursday evening in Kiryat Benjamin for the first time in several years, according to the Haifa Bay Association for Environmental Protection. The spike occurred against the backdrop of maintenance work at the Gadiv plant within the Bazan petrochemical complex. In accordance with operational orders issued to Bazan, plant activities were halted immediately.
Following the suspension, ambient benzene concentrations dropped significantly, and as of Friday morning, they have returned to standard levels. Avihu Hahn, Deputy Mayor of Haifa and Chairman of the environmental association, called for the permanent closure of the facility, stressing that public health requires uncompromising environmental responsibility from local industries.
Dr. Lihi Shahar Berman, CEO of the association, demanded a comprehensive professional investigation into the maintenance work, the circumstances surrounding the emissions, and the efficacy of existing preventive measures to ensure strict compliance with environmental requirements.
