How will you protect the health of those exposed to emissions from Viridor's new incinerator?

Waiting for an internal review by Halton Borough Council of their handling of this request.

Dear Halton Borough Council,

What health and mortality data at electoral ward or any other level will be scrutinised by Halton Unitary Authority or their expert advisers to demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt that emissions from Viridor's incinerator are not harming health?

Viridor are aware that there's a link between exposure to incinerator emissions and higher rates of infant mortality from the Berwickshire News article: "Viridor accuse objectors of scaremongering" (20 February 2008), which included the following statement by Viridor:

"We deplore scaremongering of this type by IRATE, van Steenis and Ryan. It is totally irresponsible to attempt to frighten local people in this way. EfW is one of the most strictly regulated industrial processes in Europe and is monitored closely in Scotland by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)."

http://www.berwickshirenews.co.uk/news/l...

Academics and health researchers in the UK missed the link between the rapid fall in infant death rates and the replacement of toxic "town gas" with much cleaner North Sea Gas.

The abstract of "Geographical trends in infant mortality: England and Wales, 1970-2006." (Health Stat Q. 2008 Winter;(40):18-29.) starts:

"At national level in England and Wales, infant mortality rates fell rapidly from the early 1970s and into the 1980s. Subnational areas have also experienced a reduction in levels of infant mortality."

The post-1970 downward trend in infant mortality rates in London Boroughs can be seen via:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/busi...

The SELCHP incinerator in Lewisham started in 1993 and emissions from SELCHP affect the Boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets and Lewisham more than other Boroughs as seen from the following graph based on the above ONS data arranged into three-year rolling averages:

http://ukhr.eu/incineration/selchp.htm

Note that all four Boroughs had similarly falling rates of infant deaths prior to SELCHP starting and that the rates in the three Boroughs most exposed to emissions stopped falling and rose after SELCHP started while the rate in Wandsworth, which is rarely exposed to emissions from SELCHP, continued to fall.

Newham Borough was aware that infant death rates had risen after 1993 as seen from the graph on the 11th page of this report:

http://www.newham.gov.uk/Documents/Counc...

The Health Protection Agency's promised study into infant deaths, stillbirths etc around existing incinerators is detailed in their 24 January 2012 press release:

http://www.hpa.org.uk/NewsCentre/Nationa...

Neither the Health Protection Agency nor the Environment Agency appear to have taken any notice of the study of infant deaths around 63 incinerators in Japan which concluded:

"Our study shows a peak-decline in risk with distance from the municipal solid waste incinerators for infant deaths and infant deaths with all congenital malformations combined.” (J Epidemiol. 2004 May;14(3):83-93.)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15242...

Here's the list of 22 incinerators where rates of infant deaths, stillbirths, low birthweight babies etc are supposedly being examined:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/1...

And here are some recent news items about the delay in publishing the findings which were due to be released in March 2014:

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/...

http://www.airqualitynews.com/2014/02/03...

http://www.scillytoday.com/2014/02/05/is...

http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/ne...

Parliamentary Questions about incinerators and infant mortality have received poor responses:

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-off...

Hansard link for 30 Nov 2009 (Paul Holmes MP)

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa...

17 Sep 2007 : Column 2209W
Hansard link for 17 September 2007 (Norman Baker MP)

Incinerators: Health Hazards
Mr Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on any effects on infant mortality and morbidity arising from residence in the vicinity of an incinerator; and if he will make a statement. [61144]

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa...

(Andy Love MP: Hansard, 22 July 2011, Column 325W)

Infant Mortality: Newham

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the trends in infant mortality rates in Newham. [137790]

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa...

(Lyn Brown MP: Hansard, 18 January 2013, Column 945W)

Incinerators: Greater London
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had on the potential effects on human health in Newham of the operation of the South East London Combined Heat and Power incinerator. [137767]

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa...

(Lyn Brown MP, Hansard, 22 January 2013, Column 142W)

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=...

(Joan Ruddock MP, HC Deb, 22 April 2013, c651W)

Yours faithfully,

Michael Ryan

Halton Borough Council

Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for your enquiry. The enquiry has been logged on our FOI tracking system and is being dealt with.

The case number is shown in the subject line of the e-mail.

Should you have any further queries please quote this reference number.

Please use [email address] for any further correspondence.

Thank You

Halton Direct Link.

Sent By UserID: 70

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Janet Johnson, Halton Borough Council

Mr Ryan
 
With reference to your enquiry under FOI regarding the Virador Incinerator
in Runcorn. The authority is liaising with Public Health England regarding
the query you raised. We aim to respond to this query by the 12 May 2014.
 
Regards
 
Information Governance Team
Service Improvement Division, ICT Services
Halton Borough Council
[1]www.halton.gov.uk
 
 
 

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Dear Janet Johnson,

I hope you are soon able to make a response.

The UK government has known since at least 1917 that air pollution (not poverty) was the driving factor for infant mortality following the scrutiny of the 1914 infant mortality rates for all parts of the British Isles by Dr William Brend.

County Roscommon had the lowest rate at 38 per 1,000 live births and Ashton-under-Lyne the highest rate in the British Isles at 184 per 1,000.

(BREND, W. A. Infant Mortality. Med. Res. Council Spec. Rept. Ser.No. 10. H. M. Stationery Office, 1917.)

Dr Brend's "Health and the State" was also published in 1917 and has the following on page 87:

"The Effect of a Smoke- and Dust-polluted
Atmosphere

We have now examined, with one exception, the main
factors which might be held to account for a high rate of
infant mortality, and we find that differences neither in
poverty, bad housing, insufficient feeding, defective sanita-
tion, disease, industrial occupation of women, nor mal-
nutrition of mothers can be regarded as adequate to
explain the excessive and widespread difference between
urban and rural rates of infant mortality. The factor
which remains to be examined is that of smoke and dust
in the atmosphere. Dirtiness of the air appears to be the
one constant accompaniment of a high infant mortality :
purity of the atmosphere is the one great advantage which
the agricultural labourer of Wiltshire, the Connaught
peasant, and the poverty-stricken crofter of the High-
lands enjoy over the resident in the town. In the opinion
of the writer, a smoky and dusty atmosphere as a cause
of infant mortality far transcends all other influences."

Yours sincerely,

Michael Ryan

Wendy Salisbury, Halton Borough Council

1 Attachment

Mr Ryan

I did send a reply on 29^th April 2014 but it seems you didn’t receive it
so please find attached a copy.

 

Many thanks

 

 

Wendy Salisbury,

Principal Environmental Health Officer,

Environmental & Public Health 

Policy & Resources Directorate.

Town Hall

Heath Road

Runcorn,

WA7 5TD

Direct Dial: 0151 511 7613 (ext.167613)

FAX:          0151 471 7314 (ext.3115)

[1][email address]

 

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made on behalf of Halton Borough Council.
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Dear Halton Borough Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Halton Borough Council's handling of my FOI request 'How will you protect the health of those exposed to emissions from Viridor's new incinerator?'.

Public Health England have been unable to provide any meaningful input to help Halton Council respond to my request.

It seems that Haton Borough Council hasn't any idea how to protect the health of those exposed to emissions from Viridor's new incinerator and shares the alleged opinion of Public Health England that effects will be too small to measure.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h...

Yours faithfully,

Michael Ryan

Peter Richmond, Halton Borough Council

Dear Michael

I have just been passed your request for an internal review of Halton Borough Council's handling of your FOI request 'How will you protect the health of those exposed to emissions from Viridor's new incinerator?'.

I will conducting this review and will be in touch in due course.

Peter Richmond

Divisional Manager - Service Improvement
Resources, ICT Services
Halton Borough Council
Municipal Building
Kingsway
Widnes
WA8 7QF

Email: [email address]
(for person identifiable data please use [email address]
Direct line - 0151 511 7003
Switchboard 0303 333 4300

show quoted sections

Peter Richmond, Halton Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Michael

I refer to my email to you dated 21st May 2014

Please find the attached letter in response to your request for an internal review of Halton Borough Council's handling of your FOI request.

Many thanks

Peter Richmond

Divisional Manager - Service Improvement
Resources, ICT Services
Halton Borough Council
Municipal Building
Kingsway
Widnes
WA8 7QF

Email: [email address]
(for person identifiable data please use [email address]
Direct line - 0151 511 7003
Switchboard 0303 333 4300

show quoted sections

Dear Peter Richmond,

I'm sorry for the residents of Halton whose existing poor health has caused Public Health England to admit that it wouldn't be possible to determine adverse health effects of the new incinerator.

http://www.runcornandwidnesweeklynews.co...

The emissions from the new incinerator won't help reduce the cancer rate.

http://www.runcornandwidnesweeklynews.co...

The following lists some health issues in "healthy" Halton:

"Healthy Halton
Poor health is an issue for many people in Halton. Improving this situation is a priority for partners and they have drawn up clear plans to improve health. They are setting up services to tackle the main causes of death in the area.

Although death rates from heart disease, stroke and cancer are coming down, they have not been improving quickly enough. Cancer is the biggest killer in the borough. People in Halton are more likely to die early from cancer than in other areas, and this disease is causing high death rates in women. The life expectancy of women in Halton is now the second worst in England. Women in Halton are living 3 years less than women elsewhere in England. More people in Halton die early because of smoking than in many other areas, and the number of people needing to go to hospital because of alcohol is also higher.

There are also major differences in health in Halton depending on where people live. According to the Department of Health, men in the most deprived areas can expect to live eight years less than men in the least deprived areas and for women, this difference is six years.

The borough's health problems are clearly understood by partners. They have identified what they need to do to improve life expectancy. This has shown that reducing deaths from heart disease will have the greatest impact on mortality rates in the short-term. The PCT is now developing more services to identify people potentially at risk from heart disease and help them manage this. Partners from St Helens and Halton are also developing joint services to reduce the harm caused by alcohol. They have good plans for extending services to reduce childhood and adult obesity in Halton.

Targeted work is also being done to try and improve health in the more deprived areas. For example, partners have been running a ‘Go' campaign aimed at encouraging more men to go for health checks. Although partners don't yet know what impact this has had, the campaign has proved popular with local people and there have been high levels of take-up. Partners have also been piloting a ‘Get Checked' campaign to improve the early detection of cancer. More people are now being seen early for bowel, breast and lung cancer.

While progress is being made to improve health in Halton, it is a major challenge to continue and drive improvements. We will check whether this action is achieving results next year.

The Council continues to improve adults social care services for local people and they are rated as excellent. Local people are able to influence and shape services to meet their needs. Services to help people to readjust to normal life following hospital care are effective. These have led to a fall in the number of people admitted to long-term care and reduced the number of acute admissions to hospital.

Partners work together to deliver a broad range of services to support people to keep their independence. When an adaptation needs to be made to a person's home it is undertaken in a timely way. People are encouraged to take part in leisure, recreational, cultural and learning activities. Good progress is being made in improving the way social services are delivered. Partners support people to decide about which services meet their own needs.

A project to help people with learning disabilities is having a positive impact. A contract to provide catering services at Norton Priory began in December 2008. The café is staffed Monday to Sunday with at least one member of staff and between two and four people with a learning disability.

Feedback is positive. Customers comment on the quality, cost, and variety of the menu and the friendliness of the service. As a whole, the catering business offers opportunity and experience to around 20 people with the possibility of further expansion as other cafes are opened."

http://archive.audit-commission.gov.uk/o...

Yours sincerely,

Michael Ryan

Peter Richmond, Halton Borough Council

Many thanks for your email.

 

I will be out at meetings on Friday 4th July 2014 and then on leave until
Monday 14th July 2014.

 

Should your enquiry be urgent please telephone -

Helen Loftus - 0151 511 7337

Neil Grice / Pauline Barnes - 0151 511 7295

Peter Cartledge   - 0151 511 7020 or

Hannah Baird  - 0151 511 7059

 

Peter Richmond.

Important Notice:
This message is intended for the indicated addressees only and may be
confidential. If this message has come to you in error you must  take no
action based on it, nor must you copy or show it to anyone; Please inform
us immediately.
** Please note that this message has been created in the knowledge that
Internet e-mail is not a 100% secure communication medium. We strongly
advise that you bear this in mind and act on it when sending or receiving
e-mail.
** This communication does not, unless expressly indicated by the sender
in the body of the message, create or modify any contract
** Although this e-mail and its attachments are believed to be clear of
any virus, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that the
message does not carry any virus.
**Halton Borough Council does not accept liability for any statements made
which are clearly the senders own personal views and are not expressly
made on behalf of Halton Borough Council.
** The information contained in this email may be subject to public
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or other legal duty.
Unless the information is legally exempt from disclosure, the
confidentiality of this email AND YOUR REPLY cannot be guaranteed.

Peter Richmond, Halton Borough Council

Many thanks for your email

Can I ask re your email is it for council's information as my part in the process was the review the FOI

Peter Richmond

Sent from my iPhone by Peter Richmond

show quoted sections

Important Notice:
This message is intended for the indicated addressees only and may be confidential. If this message has come to you in error you must take no action based on it, nor must you copy or show it to anyone; Please inform us immediately.
** Please note that this message has been created in the knowledge that Internet e-mail is not a 100% secure communication medium. We strongly advise that you bear this in mind and act on it when sending or receiving e-mail.
** This communication does not, unless expressly indicated by the sender in the body of the message, create or modify any contract
** Although this e-mail and its attachments are believed to be clear of any virus, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that the message does not carry any virus.
**Halton Borough Council does not accept liability for any statements made which are clearly the senders own personal views and are not expressly made on behalf of Halton Borough Council.
** The information contained in this email may be subject to public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or other legal duty. Unless the information is legally exempt from disclosure, the confidentiality of this email AND YOUR REPLY cannot be guaranteed.