There has been a significant reduction in these emissions, but within cities, high concentrations of particulates were recorded relative to OECD countries and, in particular, concentrations of fine respiratory particles
An indicator of air pollution by particulates resulting from fuel use in industry and transportation
The respiratory particles PM10 result from dust storms (natural source) and the burning of fuels in power plants and industry (anthropogenic source). The indicator focused solely on PM10 emissions from the burning of fuels. Since the mid-1990s Israel has shown a general trend of reduction in emissions and during the first decade of the 21st century registered a reduction of approximately 44% in emissions from all sources: electricity production (the primary source) and the other sectors of industry, motor vehicles, and other sources. The background concentrations of PM10 in Israel are high because of the country’s proximity to sub-tropic desert areas and the dust storms that occur therein. Concentrations that exceed the standard were recorded on 21 days out of the year, accounting for 6% of the time, including dust storm days. Testing for PM2.5 concentrations began during the first decade of the 21st century and indicates a deviation from the annual target standard throughout the entire country and for all the years that measurements were taken. In a transnational comparison of PM10 concentrations in urban areas, Israel ranks relatively high yet registers a downward trend of 42%, which is more than any other OECD country registered during the first decade of the 21st century.