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One of the UK?s foremost toxicologists has submitted a report to Trafford Planning Authority which states that “the risks to health of the local population from a modern plant operating to the EU regulatory emission limits will, at the very most, be very minor.”
Professor James Bridges is the author or co-author of over 350 peer reviewed research papers and reviews in the fields of toxicology, drug metabolism, public health and methods of chemical analysis. He currently chairs the independent EU scientific committee (SCENIHR) which advises the EU on the health and environmental risks associated with new technologies.
In his report, Professor Bridges is also critical of public claims made by some of those opposing the Barton Renewable Energy Plant proposal, stating: “A number of the statements in literature published by the Breath Clean Air Group (BCAG) seriously misrepresent current scientific opinion on the potential air quality and health impacts of biomass plants and other waste to energy/incinerator plants.
“As a consequence they give a very misleading impression of the possible risks to the local population and are likely to cause serious and unnecessary concern amongst local residents and their representatives towards Peel Energy?s Barton Renewable Energy Project.”
Professor Bridges' report explains that many of the issues raised by BCAG appear to be derived from general statements made by Dr Dick Van Steenis, a well-known opponent of energy from waste facilities. Dr Van Steenis addressed the protest group in October 2010.
The report states: “Unfortunately Dr Van Steenis? conclusions do not appear to be based on a comprehensive and objective scientific assessment which would be expected of an expert providing a public health commentary.
“The published scientific evidence is clear that incinerators in operation between the 1940s and the 1980s were often sources of environmental pollution. However due to a combination of tighter emission limits imposed by regulation and advances in technology the published literature shows that for modern plants operating in the EU this is no longer the case.”
Literature that opposed the BREP plan was withdrawn from general circulation by the protest group BCAG in early March 2011 following a complaint about its content to the Advertising Standards Authority.
In its formal consultation response to Trafford Planning Authority submitted in March 2011, the Health Protection Agency has stated that the risk to human health from the proposed Barton Renewable Energy Plant is 'negligible'.
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