Environmental Health in Israel

Multi-Year Research Grants

Characterization and Source Apportions of Local and Foreign PM

2.5

in Israel Under Different Synoptic Conditions

The Middle East is one of the regions in the world where relatively high concentrations

of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) have been detected frequently. It has been

suggested that PM levels in the Middle East are present at levels that lead to adverse

health effects and to poor visibility.

The hypothesis underlying this study is that the integration of meteorological conditions

with detailed characterization of aerosol composition and sources is crucial for the

evaluation of the health effect of aerosols and for developing strategies and standards

to protect the public from air pollution. The two research aims were: (1) to develop

source receptor relationships for PM

2.5

in Israel that can be related both to the physical

origin of sources and specific sources for local air pollution; and (2) to understand how

meteorological analysis of air pollution can sufficiently classify air pollution sources

and composition to provide a cost effective metric to use in epidemiological studies.

The synoptic conditions prevailing in Israel allowed us to characterize the composition

and properties of atmospheric PM. This was done in conjunction with detailed analysis

of air masses movements and transport models. In the summer, during Persian Trough

conditions PM concentrations are lowest, the ratio of PM

2.5

/PM

is highest, the spatial

and temporal variations are relatively low, and toxic metal concentrations (As, V) are

highest. In contrast, during dust storms prevailing in the fall, in the spring, and in the

winter PM concentrations vary a lot, PM

2.5

/PM

ratio is lowest, and most of the toxic

metals are from urban sources located en-route of the air masses. From a public health

perspective, our finding highlights the fact that in Israel when PM concentrations are

lowest their health impact is not necessarily low because of their higher toxicity levels.

In order to minimize the adverse public health effects of atmospheric PM by

exposure management, there is a need for a greater understanding of mechanisms

of atmospheric PM toxicity. For this purpose bioassay techniques were utilized and

a reporter panel of 10 genetically engineered bacterial (Escherichia coli) strains was

composed. Each panel member was designed to report on a different stress condition

with a measurable light signal produced by the luciferase enzyme. The reporter panel

approach, as demonstrated in this study’s results, has the potential of providing novel

insights as to the mechanisms of atmospheric PM toxicity. Furthermore, combining

the panel’s results with bioavailability data can enlighten the role of different PM

components in the observed toxicity.

Research publications

(1)

Dayan, U., Erel, Y., Shpund, J., Kordova, L., Wanger, A., & Schauer, J.J. (2011). The impact of local

sources and meteorological factors on nitrogen oxide and particulate matter concentrations: A case

study of the Day of Atonement in Israel.

Atmospheric Environment, 45

, 3325-3332.

(2)

Kessler, N., Schauer, J.,Yagur-Kroll, S., Melamed, S., Tirosh, O., Belkin, S., & Erel,Y. (2012). A bacterial bioreporter

panel to assay the cytotoxicity of atmospheric particulate matter.

Atmospheric Environment, 63

, 94-101.

(3)

Erel, Y., Tirosh, O., Kessler, O., Dayan, U., Belkin, S., Stein, M., Sandler, A., & Schauer, J.J. (2013).

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) in the Middle East: Toxicity, trans-boundary transport, and

influence of synoptic conditions. In P. Censi, T.H. Darrah, & Y. Erel (Eds.),

Medical geochemistry -

geological materials and health

. Springer.

Yigal Erel

| Uri Dayan

James Schauer

Levana Kordova

| Arye Wanger

1. The Hebrew University

of Jerusalem

2. University of Wisconsin-Madison,

USA

3. Israel Ministry of Environmental

Protection

4. Adam Teva VaDin (IUED)

2008-2012