Environmental Health in Israel | 2014

 Figure 1 Source: Israeli Ministry of Health (5) Based on data from the National Cancer Registry, there has been an increase in the reported incidence of mesothelioma in the general population in Israel, with higher rates in men during the years 1980–2007 (Figure 1). Asbestos is one of the known causes of lung cancer, which was the leading cause of death in Israel in 2011. Incidence of Mesothelioma in Israel, 1980-2010 Research on Health Effects of Asbestos in Israel Between 2010-2014, one study was published on asbestos-related disease in Israel. This 2012 study summarizes the results of medical monitoring over a 15-year period after cessation of exposure to asbestos in a cohort of Israeli power plant workers. Progress and Challenges  There are limited data in Israel on the health effects of environmental exposure to asbestos.  The MoE is preparing regulation pertinent to occupational exposure to asbestos with the aim of lowering the maximum permitted threshold for working with asbestos to 0.1 fiber/cm 3 .  The MoH is working on maintenance and expansion of the registry of occupational diseases with an emphasis on information pertaining to specific types of occupational disease and specific workplaces.  The MoEP is focusing on implementing the 2011 Asbestos Law, primarily with regard to mapping and removing all friable asbestos by 2021 and maintaining public buildings that contain asbestos cement. 10 05 00 95 90 85 09 04 99 94 89 84 07 02 97 92 87 82 08 03 98 93 88 83 06 01 96 91 86 81 80 0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00 1.20 Year ASR/100000 Jews, Male Jews, Female non-Jews, Male non-Jews, Female - 65 - Asbestos