When the engines fell silent: how the air in Israel's cities changed on Yom Kippur

With the onset of Yom Kippur 5787 and the halt of traffic, a significant decrease in air pollutant concentrations was recorded in Israeli cities. Data from the national air monitoring network showed a drop in nitrogen oxide levels, especially on busy streets like Independence Street in Haifa, where they fell from 129.6 to 10.1 parts per billion. Sharp declines were also recorded in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Petah Tikva.

With the onset of Yom Kippur 5787 yesterday (Sunday) and the near-complete halt of traffic, a dramatic decrease in air pollutant concentrations was recorded in Israeli cities. Data from the national air monitoring network presented a clear picture of very good air quality, with a significant drop in nitrogen oxide levels, a distinct marker of pollution originating from vehicles. Values ranged from 3.1 to 61.1 parts per billion (ppb), far below the permitted environmental value (500 ppb). On Independence Street in Lower Haifa, concentrations plummeted from 129.6 to 10.1 ppb. In Jerusalem (Devorah HaNevi'a Street), they dropped from 82.7 to 16.2 ppb. In Tel Aviv, a decrease was recorded from 59.6 to 8.8 ppb near the central bus station and from 37.9 to 7.7 ppb in the city center. In Petah Tikva (Gissin Street), they fell from 94.4 to 11.7 ppb. An anomaly was recorded in Bnei Brak (Jabotinsky Street) with an increase from 23 to 61.1 ppb, likely due to traffic to the hospital. Benzene concentrations also decreased, and in the Kishon Stream they dropped from 0.91 to 0.16 ppb. Meteorological conditions helped carry clean air from the west and reduced respirable particles.