Risks to Human Health

The following is a very brief summery of some of the available information on human health risks. For more information you can download the Greenpeace report

'Pollution and Heath Impacts of Waste Incineration’ CLICK HERE

‘Incineration and Human Health’ - Summary Click Here

‘Incineration and Human Health’ - Full Version Click Here

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q       The Sint Niklaas incinerator in Belgium met E.U safety limits but was shown to cause a 480% increase in cancer amongst local residents and shortened life spans by 12 years - it was shut down.

q       A British study of municipal incinerators published in 2000 found that children living within 5km of an incinerator had twice the rate of leukaemia and cancers of other children.

q       “Air emissions for incinerators have been positively identified as a cause of cancer and other heath damage to humans”.

q       6.7 increase in the likelihood of mortality from lung cancer

q       200% increase probability of cancer mortality in children.

q       37% excess mortality due to liver cancer.

q       “Studies of the communities living in the vicinity (0.5 km to 5 km) of a municipal waste incinerator have shown elevated levels of dioxins in blood samples compared to background population levels.

q       “Nitrogen Oxide - A by product of the process of burning waste have respiratory effects (and is a pre-curser of ozone, which also contributes to respiratory problems.

q       Sulphur Oxides – A by product of the process of burning waste causes acid gases and also has respiratory effect

q       Dioxins – Classified by the World Healh Authority as the most Cancerous substance known to science. Class 1 Carcinogen (as TCDD) Affects development and reproduction, highly toxic, persistent, bio accumulative. Can contaminant the food chain.

q       Developmental impacts – Birth defects, foetal death, impaired neurological development and subsequent cognitive defects, altered sexual development.

q    There have been reports and investigations into the effects of incinerators on human heath. One study concluded that children living near 70 British incinerators were twice as likely to die from cancer. Another study on incinerator workers in Sweden showed an increase in deaths from lung cancer, cancer of the oesophagus and heart disease.

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