CHASE

Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • NEWS
  • IN THE MEDIA
    • PRESS RELEASES 2015 onwards
    • PRESS RELEASES pre 2015
    • LETTERS
  • ARCHIVE
  • DOCUMENTS
  • IMAGES
  • DONATE

No safe level of exposure to tiny particulates, says toxico pathologist

April 26, 2016 by CHASE

2howard_2578

Toxico-pathologist and nano-particulate expert, Professor Vyvyan Howard, speaking at this mornings Oral Hearing (Day 6) said that “Chronic low dose exposure to ultra fine particles reduces life expectancy” and cited several published studies which show that “filters are not capable of arresting these particles” which “pass through any filtration system undetected” and also warned that statutory limits are not protective.

Concerned primarily with very tiny particles (PM0.1) Prof Howard outlined that it is the number of particles, rather than their mass, which is the affecting factor in the damage that they will do and criticised the control mechanism as being weight based rather than number based, which was misleading in terms of the numbers of nano particles.

Prof Howard explained that organic compounds such as dioxin and dioxin like compounds form on tiny particles which become highly reactive because they become highly crystallised and charged.  He described how nano particles are about the same size as viruses and travel around the body, passing through air and blood to be assimilated into the bloodstream where they travel to other organs. He stated that small cumulative portions cause low grade chronic inflammation resulting in chronic respiratory disease and over time attack on lining of the arteries causing cardiovascular issues.

Prof Howard cited small children as being more vulnerable to this effect than adults, because they breathe more air per unit of body weight, and “have smaller airways which means they need less inflammation to induce turbulence, i.e. asthma.”

Looking for clarification on the issue of defined guide levels for tiny particles, Oral Hearing Inspector, Derek Daly’s asked  “Are there defined safe levels in relation to humans?”, Professor Howard clarified “no, there are not”.

Prof Howard said that the EU recognises that there will be 400,000 deaths across the EU attributed to ultra-fine particles, and explicitly stated that it is accepted that we “cannot detect a level at which no harm occurs”.

Waste Management Expert Colm MacDowell also presented for CHASE, and highlighted the lack of clarity raised by the application on the issue of a hazardous waste transfer station.  He said that he had “never seen a hazardous waste incinerator operate without a hazardous waste transfer station” and questioned if this was a “mission creep approach” where a transfer station would be applied for at a later stage.  Mr MacDowell also cricised the proposal saying it was “At best, old and outdated and was not future proofing the Irish Economy and Irish Market”. Read Submission

Planning and Development Consultant,  Tricia O’Sullivan, speaking on behalf of CHASE delivered a comprehensive analysis of National and Local planning strategy and highlighted requirements in the County Development Plan to protect areas of strategic employment and submitted “how the many submissions against this proposal have consistently highlighted the detrimental affects to employment in the area that would result from this application.” Read Submission

Epidemiologist Prof Anthony Staines, is scheduled to speak on behalf of CHASE tomorrow.

Filed Under: An Bord Pleanala, Circulation, News, OH2016 Press Release, Press Releases, Uncategorized

Oral Hearing 2016 headlines

  • Serious dioxin figure irregularities exposed as Hearing comes to close
  • No measuring of nanoparticles – not practical, Indaver tell hearing
  • Indaver facility will carry strategic implications for the State – Indaver offer to shut down for Department when needed
  • Indaver to abandon fire fighting after just 2 hours
  • Final Submissions today, questions next week
  • Indaver selective quotation omits that incinerators likely to cause premature deaths
  • 13 year old Cobh student calls for baseline health study for Harbour
  • “There is no risk assessment” – says top Epidemiologist Anthony Staines
  • No safe level of exposure to tiny particulates, says toxico pathologist
  • Royal flush as all TD’s unite to protect the new era for Cork Harbour
  • Ringaskiddy incinerator live plume plot launched
  • Statement from Department of Defence
  • Human Health needs the same standard as protected species: CHASE Opening Statement
  • Indaver experts confirm: High Tide is now inside the site boundary. No separate Health Impact Assessment
  • Packed hearing opens at Carrigaline Court Hotel
  • Full CHASE Submission to An Bord Pleanala

TIMELINE Donate - GO FUND ME


Live animation of today's plume. (With thanks to Plume Plotter)

Read our Privacy Policy here

ABOUT CHASE

CHASE is an alliance of groups campaigning since 2001 to stop the construction of a large 240,000 tonne commercial incinerator in Cork Harbour. The third application from Indaver Ireland was lodged … Read More...

Burning news around the world

EU Bank drops Belgrade Incinerator citing impact on Recycling (Source bankwatch.org) October 2019

 

Related News

  • Rising seas will force Irish householders to retreat inland
  • EEA Report:: City dwellers exposed to air pollutants at unsafe levels

Catriona Reid Oral Hearing Blog

  • The Grand Finale – day seventeen
  • Day sixteen – Monday 16th
  • Day fifteen – Thursday 12th
  • Day fourteen – Wednesday 11th
  • Day thirteen – Tuesday 10th
....See all reports

LINKS

All Press Releases (2001 - Present)
Documents
Privacy Policy

DONATIONS

DONATE ONLINE

Bank Details
AIB Bank, Mainstreet, Carrigaline, Co. Cork
IBAN: IE89 AIBK 9343 1302 5360 94

CONTACT

e-mail: info@chasecorkharbour.com

PRESS ENQUIRIES
Mary O'Leary: 086 8177737
Linda Fitzpatrick: 087 7410849

STAY IN TOUCH

Follow us on twitter or sign up below to get every update straight into your inbox.

It goes without saying your e-mail and details are 100% confidential and will never be shared with anyone or used for any purpose other than CHASE updates.

Upcoming Events

Nothing from January 15, 2021 to February 14, 2021.

SUBMIT an event or SEE all events this month

Tweets by @CHASECorkNews
[event_form]

© 2021 · CHASE · Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment