Asbestos Fibres in the Ambient Air of Israel

The growing attention paid to the adverse health effects of exposure of the Israeli public to asbestos fibres has resulted in a comprehensive programme of sampling and analysis. Monitoring covered many regions, especially areas where relatively high concentrations of fibres were expected. Modern electron microscopy techniques give an accurate picture of the situation in the general environment. In addition, specific regulations dealing with the asbestos problem were issued by the Ministries of Health and Labor, including occupational and emission standards. For the general environment a guideline (but not a standard) value of 1,600 f/m⊃3 was adopted.