Tayside Environmental Action Group

For every report that says incinerators are safe, there seems to be a dozen more that question this. One of the most well known and respected is 'The Health Effects of Waste Incinerators', published by the British Society for Ecological Medicine.  This examines hundreds of scientific studies from around the world.  Collectively, these studies paint a disturbing picture of a multitude of health problems that cannot be simply dismissed.

Reports by respected government bodies have been called into question. For example, in 2004, Defra published a report titled Review of the Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management. This report largely discounts health concerns related to incineration. However, the Royal Society pointed out that Defra’s report fails to discuss cumulative effects, timelines for exposure, effects of mixtures and synergies of emissions and the additive effects, for example, when combined with other environmental and occupational exposures. Defra acknowledged these deficiencies in the final draft. However, the Royal Society subsequently stated:

"Although the uncertainties have been acknowledged in this report, it is important that anyone using these data takes adequate consideration of its inherent uncertainty". [ Source: The Royal Society’s peer review of Defra’s report on the environmental and health effects of waste management, March 200]

Both the Defra report and the Royal Society’s peer review are available online.

The proposed incinerator will emit fine particulates, heavy metals and innumerable chemicals. It will also emit a range of poisonous gases and produce large quantities of toxic ash [1]. For further information see Toxic Emissions. Emissions from incinerators are implicated in a wide variety of conditions including respiratory disorders, neurological diseases, mental illness and various types of cancer [2].

Many studies indicate an increase in birth defects downwind of incinerators. A study in France has shown that chromosomal defects and other major anomalies including facial clefts, megacolon and renal dysplasias may be caused by living close to incinerators [2].

Independent researcher Michael Ryan has found that figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that infant mortality rates (i.e. deaths below one year) in areas upwind of incinerators are significantly lower than in downwind areas. For example areas upwind of Coventry incinerator (shown in green) recorded an average infant mortality rate of 3.2 per 1,000 live births between 2003 and 2005, while in downwind areas (shown in yellow) the average was 8.2 [3 & 4]. Download ONS statistics.

Also see the map of Coventry below - the incinerator is in Cheylesmore, indicated by the navy blue dot. Some reports claim that such statistics can be attributed to socio-economic factors, i.e. poverty. However Mr Ryan has found that even in wealthy areas having an incinerator nearby can affect infant mortality - see report on Chingford Green ward in London.

ONS figures show that New Cross ward, which is largely downwind of the Debtford incinerator, has the highest Standardised Mortality Ratio out of all 625 council wards in London with a figure of 161 for 1999-2003. This translates as 61% more deaths than would be expected [3 & 4]. (See ONS statistics)

Studies show that soil and vegetation close to incinerators may become contaminated with incinerator releases of dioxins and heavy metals to levels above normal background concentrations. As a consequence, there is a possibility of agricultural produce becoming contaminated. Livestock may also take in pollutants, largely through ingestion of contaminated vegetation and soil [1]. Furthermore the toxic ash from incinerators will likely be put in landfill, where it can pollute watercourses [2].

Conventional incineration produces more Co2 than other types of waste treatment. The incinerator will burn 60,000 tonnes of rubbish each year. Friends of the Earth say that for every tonne of rubbish burnt, a tonne of Co2 is produced. Co2 (Carbon Dioxide) is the greenhouse gas that is mainly responsible for global warming, which threatens to make large parts of the World uninhabitable - including areas of the UK. We should be finding other ways to get rid of our rubbish like Western Isles Council.

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