Infant Deaths Three to Four Times Higher Downwind of Incinerators

UK Health Research shows high incidences of infant deaths coincide with close proximity of populations to incinerators.

Anywhere within 14 miles of Javelin Park is considered close to the proposed incinerator when using this data.

Infant deaths near incinerators are more than double the national average. Wind plays an important part, and death rates downwind are three to four times higher than upwind. We live downwind of the proposed incinerator at Javelin Park.

The County Council and the big firms bidding to build and operate an incinerator say health effects will not be as bad as this. They say the incinerator will be built to the latest standards, and will operate within specification at all times for the next 30 years. But then they would, wouldn't they.

Infant Deaths per 1,000 Live Births
DOWNWIND UPWIND

Kirklees (Huddersfield) 9.4 3.5

Coventry & Solihull Waste Disposal 8.2 3.2

Edmonton Incinerator (London) 10.5 2.5

England and Wales average 2009 4.5


It’s not only children who are at risk. Adults will suffer as well.

People who are exposed to emissions from incinerators run the risk of:
• Increased infant deaths
• Lower birth rates
• Increased asthma and other respiratory ailments
• Increased heart disease and spina bifida
• Other complications including shortened attention spans.
• 12-year reduction in adult life expectancy

With thanks for data and information from:
Office for National Statistics (2011). Infant Mortality Rates continue to Fall.
Dr van Steenis (2009). Lecture to Hatfield Against Incineration.
Michael Ryan BSc, C Eng, MICE. (2005) Written Evidence to the Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. UK Health Research

Public Consultation on the Incinerator Proposals

There are two public consultations planned and coming up soon.

An exhibition being held at Javelin Park from 16th to 19th July 2011. The County Council and the two companies bidding to build and operate an incinerator will show their plans. Go along and ask them why they are prepared to kill babies, when there are other, safer, alternatives.

The consultation on the waste core strategy, which says we need an incinerator, has been re-opened from 27th June 2011 to 8th August 2011.

It appears the County Council is trying to control the potential objections by limiting the response period, requiring a standard response form to be used and limiting the areas they will accept comments on to the changes only.

But now is the time to make objections through the official routes if you are unhappy with the proposal to build a giant incinerator on our doorstep. Some people may prefer to take direct action, but it is important to follow the official routes as well. The web site for the consultation is:
http://tinyurl.com/62me579

Surely if the figures are for anywhere within 14 miles then depending on the wind direction then the whole of Gloucester or Stonehouse and Stroud will be affected. Although I believe the usual wind in Gloucester if I have my geography correct will blow any smoke away from Quedgeley and more towards Brockworth. In my experience the wind usually pretty well follows the path of the river Severn. Once again I feel as if we don't have much say in the matter but i will visit the website and object.

Gosh what a worrying story! Alanr you are right this is no longer an issue that affects just Quedgeley but those statistics show that this will affect all of Gloucester in ways I wouldn't have even imagined. Typical that the website is just legal jargon they are obviously attempting to try and confuse and mislead people who are just trying to object to something in their community. Again Alanr I have to agree that I'm not sure that there is anything we can do.