Health impact assessment

Some people are concerned about the emissions from energy-from-waste facilities, however, the majority of independently reviewed evidence shows no link between adverse health and modern incineration facilities. The Health Protection Agency, which is an independent body, has carried out thorough research and says that modern incinerators are safe:

"Modern incineration plants should contribute little to the concentrations of monitored pollutants in ambient air. Epidemiological studies and risk estimates based on estimated exposures indicate that the emissions from such incinerators have little effect on health."

(Source: Health Protection Agency November 2005 "Municipal Solid Waste Incineration")

Also a DEFRA report written in 2004 "Review of Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management" analysed many papers and studies on health impacts and states:

"The review did not find a link between the current generation of municipal solid waste incinerators and health effects. Adverse health effects have been observed in populations living around older, more polluting incinerators and industrial areas. However, the current generation of waste incinerators result in much lower levels of exposure to pollutants. We considered cancers, respiratory diseases and birth defects, but found no evidence for a link between the incidence of disease and the current generation of incinerators."

(Source DEFRA 2004 "Review of Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management")

Independent consultants have also carried out a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) to examine any potential health impacts on the local community.

The HIA examined a range of pollutants including dioxins, dust (small particulates), nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. The HIA considered detailed modelling of the levels of emissions from the facility against National and European air quality directives. Other factors that were taken into consideration included topography, existing background air quality concentrations and weather conditions. Emissions from the EfW facility are predicted to make no significant adverse contribution to the air quality in the local area. The HIA has concluded that emissions from the Trumps Farm EfW will not pose any threat to health.

Perspective view from North West of Trumps Farm