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The Israeli newspaper revealed that "dozens of Israeli Navy commandos were struck with cancer" after being ordered for many years "to dive in the Kishon river...one of the most polluted rivers in the world" and even to drink the contaminated water as a kind of punishment. The reporters used environmental studies to illustrate the presence of hazardous materials - like arsenic, benzene, nickel, chrome and cadmium - in the river. The series also found out that the Israeli Navy knew about "the pollution and its risks" for 43 years, "but did nothing to protect its soldiers". Among the findings was the fact that Navy medical staff had ignored divers' complaints regarding various medical problems. The reporters added human-interest angle by telling the personal stories of some of the affected soldiers along with the political follow-up of the issue.