FACTORIES STILL SPEWING OVER 10,000 TONNES OF CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICALS TO
AIR. FOE Demands Tougher Pollution Laws
12 May 1999
Friends of the Earth's analysis of the Environment Agency's Pollution
Inventory, published today, shows that Britain's biggest factories are
still releasing over 10,000 tonnes of cancer-causing chemicals into the
air (see tables) [1]. Associated Octel in Ellesmere Port are still worst
of the bunch, releasing 4,090 tonnes of cancer-causing chemicals, down
from 5,340 tonnes in 1996 (the last data published). Total reported ICI
releases from factories in Runcorn and Middlesborough have increased by
over 800 tonnes to 4382 tonnes. Glaxo Wellcome's releases at Ulverston
have increased by almost 20 per cent to 992 tonnes.
FOE is calling for the Government to set a statutory target to reduce the
release of hazardous substances by 80 per cent by 2005. FOE is also
demanding that the Pollution Prevention and Control Bill - currently
before Parliament - is amended to give the public a comprehensive picture
on pollution released into their area (including pollution from smaller
factories, landfill sites, transport, etc). Environment Minister, Michael
Meacher MP,made an election promise to introduce comprehensive pollution
inventories which he has yet to deliver on. The Environment Agency say
they are keen to develop a better inventory.
In February, FOE launched Factory Watch, which named and shamed those
companies releasing most cancer-causing chemicals. The Environment
Agency's Pollution Inventory has shied away from using the same approach
and does not outline the health threats associated with the chemicals
released. FOE has carried out a preliminary analysis of the data but will
be carrying out a more thorough analysis shortly and publish national and
regional “cancer-threat” league tables. FOE has also recently published
research showing industrial pollution hits poorer communities harder
(www.foe.co.uk/pollution-injustice).
Mike Childs, Senior Pollution Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:
“People are still being bombarded by thousand of tonnes of hazardous
chemicals from Britain's filthy factories. The Government must make
drastic cuts in this pollution if they are serious about protecting public
health. They must also deliver on their election promise to give people a
decent right to know about all the pollution in their neighbourhoods.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cancer-causing chemical 1996 reported releases 1998 reported releases
-adjusted to exclude factories not reporting in '96 1998 total reported
releases
Chloroethane
5,247 tonnes
4,023 tonnes
4,023 tonnes
Dichloromethane
2,002 tonnes
2,288 tonnes
2,400 tonnes
1,2-Dichloroethane
1,900 tonnes
2,193 tonnes
2,256 tonnes
Benzene
1,122 tonnes
568 tonnes
1,795 tonnes
Vinyl Chloride
699 tonnes
396 tonnes
397 tonnes
Total
10,970 tonnes
9,468 tonnes
10,871 tonnes
Company Factory Watch releases(tonnes of cancer-causing chemicals to air
in '96) Environment Agency data -1998
Associated Octel, South Wirral
5,340 tonnes
at least 4,090 tonnes of recognised carcinogens still released
ICI, Runcorn
2,150 tonnes
at least 3,381 tonnes of recognised carcinogens released. ICI claim this
is due to changes in reporting requirements. However they didn't come
clean when Factory Watch was launched and admit they released over 1,000
tonnes more carcinogens in 1996.
Glaxochem Ltd, Ulverston
813 tonnes
now called Glaxo Wellcome Ltd,released at least 992 tonnes of recognised
carcinogens.
EVC (UK) Ltd, Thornton-Cleveleys
761 tonnes
at least 579 tonnes of recognised carcinogens still released
ICI, Redcar
833 tonnes
at least 710 tonnes of recognised carcinogens still released
ICI, North Tees
575 tonnes
at least 291 tonnes of recognised carcinogens still released
Courtalds Chemicals (Holdings) Ltd,Lancaster
354 tonnes
now Acordis Acetate Chemicals Ltd,releasing at least 299 tonnes of
recognised carcinogens.
Zeneca Ltd, Huddersfield
276 tonnes
Process closed
Recticel Manufacturing, Derby
233 tonnes
at least 316 tonnes of recognised carcinogens released
Dow Chemical Co Ltd, Kings Lynn
118 tonnes
now releasing less than 1 tonne of recognised carcinogens
Total
11, 453 tonnes
10,659 tonnes
Notes to editors -the Pollution inventory will be launched by Michael
Meacher at 10am in the Baltic Exchange in London. Data for Northern
Ireland and Scotland is not available.
2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994
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FACTORIES STILL SPEWING OVER 10,000 TONNES OF CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICALS TO
AIR. FOE Demands Tougher Pollution Laws
12 May 1999
Friends of the Earth's analysis of the Environment Agency's Pollution
Inventory, published today, shows that Britain's biggest factories are
still releasing over 10,000 tonnes of cancer-causing chemicals into the
air (see tables) [1]. Associated Octel in Ellesmere Port are still worst
of the bunch, releasing 4,090 tonnes of cancer-causing chemicals, down
from 5,340 tonnes in 1996 (the last data published). Total reported ICI
releases from factories in Runcorn and Middlesborough have increased by
over 800 tonnes to 4382 tonnes. Glaxo Wellcome's releases at Ulverston
have increased by almost 20 per cent to 992 tonnes.
FOE is calling for the Government to set a statutory target to reduce the
release of hazardous substances by 80 per cent by 2005. FOE is also
demanding that the Pollution Prevention and Control Bill - currently
before Parliament - is amended to give the public a comprehensive picture
on pollution released into their area (including pollution from smaller
factories, landfill sites, transport, etc). Environment Minister, Michael
Meacher MP,made an election promise to introduce comprehensive pollution
inventories which he has yet to deliver on. The Environment Agency say
they are keen to develop a better inventory.
In February, FOE launched Factory Watch, which named and shamed those
companies releasing most cancer-causing chemicals. The Environment
Agency's Pollution Inventory has shied away from using the same approach
and does not outline the health threats associated with the chemicals
released. FOE has carried out a preliminary analysis of the data but will
be carrying out a more thorough analysis shortly and publish national and
regional “cancer-threat” league tables. FOE has also recently published
research showing industrial pollution hits poorer communities harder
(www.foe.co.uk/pollution-injustice).
Mike Childs, Senior Pollution Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:
“People are still being bombarded by thousand of tonnes of hazardous
chemicals from Britain's filthy factories. The Government must make
drastic cuts in this pollution if they are serious about protecting public
health. They must also deliver on their election promise to give people a
decent right to know about all the pollution in their neighbourhoods.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cancer-causing chemical 1996 reported releases 1998 reported releases
-adjusted to exclude factories not reporting in '96 1998 total reported
releases
Chloroethane
5,247 tonnes
4,023 tonnes
4,023 tonnes
Dichloromethane
2,002 tonnes
2,288 tonnes
2,400 tonnes
1,2-Dichloroethane
1,900 tonnes
2,193 tonnes
2,256 tonnes
Benzene
1,122 tonnes
568 tonnes
1,795 tonnes
Vinyl Chloride
699 tonnes
396 tonnes
397 tonnes
Total
10,970 tonnes
9,468 tonnes
10,871 tonnes
Company Factory Watch releases(tonnes of cancer-causing chemicals to air
in '96) Environment Agency data -1998
Associated Octel, South Wirral
5,340 tonnes
at least 4,090 tonnes of recognised carcinogens still released
ICI, Runcorn
2,150 tonnes
at least 3,381 tonnes of recognised carcinogens released. ICI claim this
is due to changes in reporting requirements. However they didn't come
clean when Factory Watch was launched and admit they released over 1,000
tonnes more carcinogens in 1996.
Glaxochem Ltd, Ulverston
813 tonnes
now called Glaxo Wellcome Ltd,released at least 992 tonnes of recognised
carcinogens.
EVC (UK) Ltd, Thornton-Cleveleys
761 tonnes
at least 579 tonnes of recognised carcinogens still released
ICI, Redcar
833 tonnes
at least 710 tonnes of recognised carcinogens still released
ICI, North Tees
575 tonnes
at least 291 tonnes of recognised carcinogens still released
Courtalds Chemicals (Holdings) Ltd,Lancaster
354 tonnes
now Acordis Acetate Chemicals Ltd,releasing at least 299 tonnes of
recognised carcinogens.
Zeneca Ltd, Huddersfield
276 tonnes
Process closed
Recticel Manufacturing, Derby
233 tonnes
at least 316 tonnes of recognised carcinogens released
Dow Chemical Co Ltd, Kings Lynn
118 tonnes
now releasing less than 1 tonne of recognised carcinogens
Total
11, 453 tonnes
10,659 tonnes
Notes to editors -the Pollution inventory will be launched by Michael
Meacher at 10am in the Baltic Exchange in London. Data for Northern
Ireland and Scotland is not available.
2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994
Press releases delivered direct to your inbox
Your email address:
News by RSS?
