Letter from BCAG to Mr Cameron & Mr Pickles

Dear Mr Cameron and Mr Pickles.

re. INCINERATION IS DANGEROUS TO HUMAN HEALTH – STOP THE BARTON RENEWABLE ENERGY PLANT (BREP).

It is still not too late to stop the building of the Barton Renewable Energy Plant (BREP) in Davyhulme, Trafford, Greater Manchester.

The local planning authority Trafford Council, voted unanimously to STOP it, but a Public Inquiry, Mr Pickles and the High Court allowed planning permission. Why is it so important to you to allow this proposed dirty plant to operate in a built up area when you both know that the emissions from burning waste and biomass will damage human health? You will be responsible for thousands of illnesses and premature deaths.

Emissions will include nitrogen dioxide (Davyhulme is already nearly 50% ABOVE the safety limit of 40 ug/cm2); heavy metals (including arsenic which is already two thirds of the safety limit); volatile organic compounds (including benzene – a known carcinogen); dioxins (another carcinogen); and masses of Particulate Matter (which are inspired into the lungs, absorbed into the bloodstream and can adversely affect a number of target organs including the heart and brain).

BREP WILL NOT BE USING “BEST AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES”

According to law, this plant is supposed to use “Best Available Techniques” (BAT). Well, it doesn’t. The Furnace is an open grate furnace burning at only 850 degrees C, (it’s got to be over 1,000 degrees C to destroy the deadly emissions). A Better alternative would be a fluidised bed system or plasma gasification. The plant will have an out-dated bag-filtration system. This will NOT be able to capture the Particulate Matter and most of the other particles. BAT would include liquid scrubbers and/or electrostatic precipitators on the chimney stack. The chimney stack is too short. It will only be 44.23 metres as opposed to 60 to 100 metres high. In fact the emission will enter the atmosphere at the same height as the nearby M60 motorway high level bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH.

Maternal residence near municipal waste incinerators and the risk of urinary birth defects, Sylvia Cordier et al.

This research paper showed that waste incinerators  release a mixture of chemicals with high embryotoxic potential including heavy metals and dioxins/furans. It confirmed the link between the risk of urinary tract birth DEFECTS and exposure to Municipal Waste Incinerator emissions in early pregnancy.

Increase risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and serum organochlorine concentrations among neighbours of a municipal solid waste incinerator. J F Viel et al.

This study provides strong and consistent support for an association between serum cumulative concentrations of organochlorine (dioxins), at levels experienced by people residing in the vicinity of a polluting Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator and the risk of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Public Health Impacts of Combustion Emissions in the United Kingdom, Steve H L Yim and Steven R H Barrett.

Combustion emissions are a major contributor to degradation of air quality and pose a risk to human health. Epidemiological evidence is used to quantitatively relate PM2.5 particulates exposure to risk of EARLY DEATH. We find that UK combustion emissions cause 13,000 premature deaths in the UK per year, whilst an additional 6,000 deaths in the UK by non-UK European Union combustion emissions. The leading domestic contributor is transport (7,500),  power generation (2,500) and industrial emissions (830) early deaths per year.

Child Health and Environmental Toxicity. Dr H-C Raabe.

This paper states “The combination of environmental toxins, especially adversely affecting brain development, food additives and a reduction in essential nutrients in processed foods is likely to contribute significantly to the dramatic increase in childhood disorders such as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), learning disabilities, behavioural disturbances and autism. All of these conditions have increased, some dramatically, over the past decades.”

Air Quality and Health.  World Health Organization (WHO).

The effects of Particulate Matter on health occur at levels of exposure currently being experienced by most urban and rural populations in both developed and developing countries. Chronic exposure to Particulate Matter contributes to the risk of developing cardio-vascular and respiratory diseases, as well as lung cancer. The mortality in cities with high levels of air pollution exceeds that observed in relatively cleaner cities by 15 – 20%. In the EU, average life expectancy is 8.6 months lower due to exposure to PM2.5 particulates produced by human activities.

Health Effects of Waste Incinerators, British Society for Ecological Medicine.

Recent research, including that relating to fine and ultra-fine particulates, the cost of incineration, together with research investigating non-standard emissions from incinerators, has demonstrated that the hazards of incineration are greater than previously realised. The accumulated evidence on the health risks of incinerators is simply too strong to ignore and their use cannot be justified now that better, cheaper and far less hazardous methods of waste disposal have become available. We therefore conclude that NO MORE INCINERATORS SHOULD BE APPROVED.

THE BARTON RENEWABLE ENERGY PLANT MUST BE STOPPED.

As you can see from this fraction of environmental health research, it is vital for the people of Davyhulme and surrounding areas, that this biomass and waste wood incinerator is STOPPED. There is no justification for it as it will only generate 20 MW of electricity. This will probably be supplied to attract more polluting industry/commerce and new housing which will attract more vehicles and hence more air pollution.

The people of Davyhulme have already suffered enough from foul smells and air pollution. Please STOP the building and operation of the Barton Renewable Energy Plant (Davyhulme Incinerator).

Yours sincerely  Peter Kilvert, Chairman, Breathe Clean Air Group.