Environmental Health in Israel | 2014

 Figure 2 Source: Israeli Ministry of Health (3) Non-Persistent Environmental Contaminants in Urine In a study conducted by the MoH in 2011, spot urine samples and detailed questionnaire data were collected from 250 adults recruited from five different geographic regions in Israel. Urine samples were analyzed for bisphenol A (BPA), phthalate metabolites, cotinine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organophosphate metabolites, and phytoestrogens. The major findings were:  The study population was widely exposed to all contaminants measured in the study.  Exposures to organophosphates and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) were relatively high among the study participants compared to other international populations.  In non-smokers, ETS exposure was highest in males, younger, and less educated participants.  BPA levels among Jews were high compared to Arabs and Druze.  Fruit consumption was a source of exposure to organophosphate pesticides. Median Creatinine Adjusted Organophosphate Urinary Metabolite Concentrations (µg/g) in the Israeli Study Population and Populations in the United States, Canada, and France - 59 - Israel 2011 Canada 2007-2009 France 2006-2007 US 2007-2009 Urinary concentration (µg/g) DEP DEDTP DMTP DETP DMP DMDTP 1 3 5 7 2 4 6 8 12 15 9 11 14 0 10 13 Biomonitoring