Air pollution near the oil refinery in the Krayot: the dangers of benzene

A new study by scientists from Rambam Hospital and the Technion has shown that even small doses of benzene with regular contact cause an inflammatory reaction in respiratory tract cells. The study was published amid abnormal air pollution near the oil refinery in the Krayot, which led to the closure of two schools in Kiryat Ata. On Sunday, October 11, the Ministry of Health recorded severe air pollution near the Haifa oil refinery. On October 3, an environmental monitoring station near the Dashim industrial zone in Kiryat Ata recorded a spike in benzene levels. At other posts around the plant, readings did not exceed the norm. Benzene is a volatile organic compound and a proven carcinogen. According to the WHO, contact with benzene increases the risk of cancerous tumors even at low doses. For the study, scientists used the "organ-on-a-chip" technology—a transparent plate with living human cells. They recreated human respiratory tracts on the chip and treated bronchial cells with different doses of benzene. A single contact with a minimal dose did not damage the cells, but after repeated treatments with the same dose, the secretion of the IL-10 protein increased noticeably. According to Dr. Artzi-Shnirman, this shows the cells' reaction to regular contact with a toxic substance even in the absence of symptoms of direct poisoning.