Five year air quality trends in Jerusalem, Israel

Air quality data obtained at the Jerusalem municipal air monitoring station, during the years 1979-1983, was analyzed to determine seasonal and long-term trends in air quality. The results of this study provide further support to previous findings indicating that ambient air quality levels in Jerusalem are influenced not only by local sources but also by transport of air pollution from Israel's coastal area. The annual and monthly averages of most pollutants indicated that in 1981 record high levels of pollutants were measured. Since total suspended paniculate (TSP) level also peaked in 1981, and since TSP is mostly associated with natural sources, it was concluded that air pollutant levels in the city are influenced more by multiannual change in dispersion conditions than by the combination of all local anthropogenic sources.