Jerusalem, Israel - Israeli Experts Warn Charedim They're Poisoning Families

Jerusalem, Israel - Charedim who were burning plastic garbage bins to protest the parade were poisoning themselves and their families, according to environmental health experts who say burned plastic releases "thousands" of dangerous chemicals.

"The burning of plastic garbage bins must be stopped immediately," they declared, the fumes from the slow-burning plastic bins, mostly in haredi neighborhoods in Jerusalem and other cities with large haredi populations, pose a serious health danger to residents. They can endanger pregnant and lactating women (of whom there are large numbers in haredi areas) and especially children, who are more susceptible to such poisons. They can cause short-term headaches, dizziness and breathing difficulties, provoke asthma attacks and cause long-term damage to people of all ages, the experts said.

The Health Ministry said it has not yet received reports from hospitals about illness connected with the burning, but Richter said "I don't understand how they burn garbage cans, as it violates Jewish law of protecting lives and health and barring the needless destruction of property."