Environmental Health in Israel | 2014

Central Bureau of Statistics Social Survey, 71.3% of non-smokers aged 20-74 reported that they had been exposed to ETS during the last month, with 17.9% reporting a high level of exposure. In a representative survey of Israeli adults (N=505) in 2010, 80.2% reported exposure to ETS, and 33.9% reported daily exposure. In a national survey in 2008 of over 11,000 adolescents, 20.5 % reported that only their father smoked at home, 5.3% reported that only their mother smoked at home, and 6.2% reported that one or more of their siblings smoked at home. Overall, 13.8% reported that more than one family member smoked, including both parents (11.3%), and 3.9% reported that all family members smoked. Biomonitoring data (urinary cotinine concentrations) from 2011 also indicate widespread exposure to ETS in the adult population in Israel. In a study by the MoH, 62.2% of non-smokers had levels equal to or above the level of quantification (LOQ). Proportions equal or above the LOQ were significantly higher for males compared to females, for subjects with lower levels of education, and in the younger age group. Based on MoH data on infant exposure to smoking, published in 2014, 25% of Jewish infants and 52% of Arab infants are exposed to ETS at two months of age. Exposure to ETS at Age 2 Months Data on Health Effects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke in Israel There are limited data in Israel on the health effects of exposure to ETS. Data from 2008 show that incidence of atopic eczema or allergic rhinitis in children ages 13–14 was not affected by smoking by at least one family member. However, asthma was higher in children who had a parent who smoked (Figure 2).  Figure 1 Source: Israeli Ministry of Health (9) Environmental Health in Israel 2014  Chapter 3 - 26 - Jewish Infants Arab Infants Every day Occasionally Never Almost every day 75.2% 23.9% 0.3% 0.6% 47.9% 47.6% 2.8% 1.6%