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“There is no risk assessment” – says top Epidemiologist Anthony Staines

April 27, 2016 by CHASE

img_2038-2.jpegEpidemiologist and public health specialist Anthony Staines, Professor of Health Systems, DCU, speaking this morning (27 April) on Day 7 of the Ringaskiddy Incinerator Oral Hearing attacked the application lodged by Indaver saying “There is NO Risk assessment”, that a document was submitted that was “labelled Health Impact Assessment (HIA) but does not contain a Health Impact Assessment” does not meet the requirements of a HIA and shows a lack of understanding of what is required of a HIA.  Read Presentation

Citing multiple sources, Prof Staines outlined what is required of a Health Impact Assessment and is “routinely and commonly done in many European Countires”, drew attention to the extensive disclaimers included by Indaver in their Hazid report and criticised Indavers presentation of Occupational Medicine Specialists as expert saying it is the wrong professional skill for this setting.  He added that Indaver’s Dr Hogan shows “no evidence of training or competency in environmental health, public health, risk assessment or impact assessment”

Prof Staines contrasted the in depth evaluation that had been done on the Natura protected areas, where a detailed, systematic view of the effects related to compounds on animal species such as otters compared most unfairly to the evaluation of the effects on human health.  He said that he would expect the same depth of evaluation be given to human health, and repeated that in relation to human health “there is no risk assessment”.

Prof Staines, who has worked on many environmental health projects in Ireland including the health assessment at Askeaton, a baseline health assessment of the proposed incinerator at Ringsend and several publicly funded projects, said that he can see “no documentation that shows quantification of risk, only lots of documentation that says it cannot be done” but that there is no reason whatsoever why a proper Health Impact Assessment cannot be done for this application, that “data sources, though lacking, are certainly adequate to support such an assessment being done.”

Mr Bob McLaughlan of Cork Harbour Environmental Protection Association) CHEPA,  presented to the Inspector a series of aerial photographs detailing the locations of Indavers other incinerators in Belgium, Germany and even Meath.  Mr McLaughlan demonstrated their location surrounded by wasteland, cement kilns and often by extremely large industry that would “dwarf any of the pharmachem in Ringaskiddy.” He said that even though the Meath plant was 5km from Drogheda and 2km from Dundalk, each of the Indaver plants were “not in a village, not beside a college, not beside a Naval HQ” and were all in areas serviced by excellent rail and highways or even superhighways.

Cllr Marcia D’Alton is currently speaking, and further submissions will continue tomorrow and into next week.

 

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

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)

TIMELINE

20 years of key dates from when the first planning application was lodged with Cork County Council in November 2001.  VIEW TIMELINE.

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...

Video Gallery

Softday – As I Roved Out One Morning from Sirius Arts Centre on Vimeo.

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  • A Community Fighting

    A Community Fighting

    This short film marks the 20 year campaign sparked by the news that a Belgian waste company, Indaver had arrived armed with plans to build a large hazardous waste incinerator at the end of a then undeveloped cul-de-sac in Ringaskiddy, the industrial heartland of Cork.

    As news percolated around Cork Harbour, concern and opposition, evident from the outset, consolidated, galvanised and continued to go from strength to strength over the course of the years that saw a community stuck in a battle that they didn’t invite.

    The campaign, at the time of publication, is still ongoing and can be followed online at www.chasecorkharbour.com
  • Dr Paul Connett, Jeremy Irons, Prof Vyvyan Howard - Burning our waste must be abandoned

    Dr Paul Connett, Jeremy Irons, Prof Vyvyan Howard - Burning our waste must be abandoned

    Dr Paul Connett, Actor & Environmentalist Jeremy Irons and Prof Vyvyan Howard outline why burning our waste is a bad idea that needs to be abandoned.

    We’ve been fighting the same fight in Cork Harbour for over 19 years now and as yet another Government talks about formation we appeal to our politicians to make sure that this burning issue is given a place in current discussions.

    Burning our waste is a bad deal for communities and the environment everywhere.

    (Thanks to Steve Slade and Byron West from SkyTec Ireland for filming and to Zoe Fitzpatrick for filming and editing this video)
  • It's a Cork Problem!

    It's a Cork Problem!

    Pure Cork Sailor, Eddie English talks about what is so special about Cork Harbour and Hendrick Verwey highlights how the Pure Cork strategic branding initiative from Cork City & Cork County Council promotes Cork as a maritime haven, with Cork Harbour as 'king pin' to this initiative. With thanks to Matt Sullivan Self Shooting Producer/Director for producing this video for CHASE.
  • Cross women

    Cross women

    The People of Cross Haven stand united against the proposed incinerator being built in Cork Harbour.
  • The Crosshaven Resistance 3

    The Crosshaven Resistance 3

  • May 8  No 4

    May 8 No 4

    Tide
  • May 8 no 3

    May 8 no 3

    Tide
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    May 8 Tide

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  • Indaver site 8 May 2016

    Indaver site 8 May 2016

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  • CIT Student Union President speaking in Incinerator Protest

    CIT Student Union President speaking in Incinerator Protest

    CIT Student Union President Shane Falvey speaking on behalf of members of NMCI student body, at rally in Ringaskiddy 3 March 2016, to protest Indavers Plans to build a 240,000 municipal and industrial waste incinerator just 20m from the College gates
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ORAL HEARING 2016 NEWS

  • 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

ORAL HEARING DIARY, from Catriona Reid

A day by day account of the oral hearing experience from Catriona Reid, who was 16 years old at the time and has since published an account in book form. READ DIARY

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