Damage to Human Health and the Environment from Incineration of Waste
Response to Prosiect Gwrydd Joint Scrutiny Panel: Call for Evidence
November 2011
Sefydliad Siartredig Iechyd yr Amgylchedd
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The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
As a professional body, we set standards and accredit courses and qualifications for the education of our professional members and other environmental health practitioners.
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We are a registered charity with over 10,500 members across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Julie Barratt
Cyfarwyddwr yng Nghymru
Sefydliad Siartredig Iechyd yr Amgylchedd
Ffôn symudol 07919 212664
E-bost j.barratt@cieh.org
Cwrt Glanllyn
Parc Llantarnam
Cwmbran NP44 3GA
Ffôn 01633 865533 Ffacs 01633 485193
www.cieh-cymruwales.org
Julie Barratt
Director of CIEH Wales
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
Mobile 07919 212664
Email j.barratt@cieh.org
Lakeside Court
Llantarnam Park
Cwmbran NP44 3GA
Telephone 01633 865533 Fax 01633 485 193
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is pleased to be able to assist the Joint Scrutiny Committee in its consideration of the potential impact of waste incineration plant emissions on human health and the environment.
Our response will answer the two specific questions constituting the Terms of Reference of the Committee, thereafter we will make more general points which we hope will assist the committee in its consideration of this issue.
c. Is there any validated scientific evidence that an energy from waste incineration plant operating within the UK’s current statutory framework causes harm to Health and Environmental damage?
In our view there is no credible scientific evidence that a well run waste incineration plant poses any significant risk to either human health or to the environment. The CIEH endorses the view expressed in the Health Protection Agency paper ‘The Impact to Health of Emissions to Air from Municipal Waste Incinerators’ (2009)[i] which in its conclusion states that ‘Modern, well managed incinerators make only a small contribution to local concentrations of air pollutants. It is possible that such small additions could have an impact on health but such effects, if they exist, are likely to be very small and not detectable’.
We consider that the regime of emission limits and monitoring required by the Environmental Permitting (EP) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 is sufficiently rigorous to protect both human health and the environment from harm from such emissions to atmosphere as are generated by modern well run incinerators.
d. If there are examples(s) of validated scientific evidence, what are the causes
of/effects on human health and the environment?
None of which the CIEH is aware. There are large numbers of credible, peer reviewed studies looking at potential damage to health and to the environment from particles emitted from waste incinerators and from various specified chemicals, including known carcinogens[ii]
None of the studies however can point to a credible risk being posed by such emissions.
General comments
It is generally accepted that in the past old style waste incinerators did generate pollution problems through emission of particulates to air and through the emission of chemicals that had an adverse impact on human health and on the environment within the vicinity of the incinerator.
The CIEH is however of the view that the combination of the control put in place by the Environmental Permitting (EP) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 and advances in emission control and screening technology in modern incineration facilities are such that no significant risk is posed with either to human health or to the environment through the operation of such facilities.
We trust that the foregoing will assist the Joint Scrutiny Committee in its deliberations and would be happy to provide such other information or assistance as may be considered to be necessary.