www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11830202
The Lancet. 2002 Jan 26
Chromosomal congenital anomalies & residence near hazardous waste landfill sites.
Previous findings of the EUROHAZCON study showed a 33% increase in risk of non-chromosomal anomalies (CA) near hazardous waste landfill sites. We studied 245 cases of (CA)+ 2412 controls who lived near 23 such sites in Europe. We noted a higher risk of (CA) in people who lived close to sites (0-3 km) than in those who lived further away (3-7 km
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20706694
2010 Jul 11
Assessment of DNA damage by RAPD in Paracentrotus lividus embryos exposed to amniotic fluid from residents living close to waste landfill sites.
Study aim: assess genotoxic effects of environmental chemicals on residents living near landfills. the first time assessment of DNA damage in P. lividus embryos tested using RAPD strategy after exposure to amniotic fluid from residents near waste landfill sites.
www.ipsnews.net/2011/02/environment-dioxin-levels-soar-on-icelandic-farms/#
Dioxin Levels Soar on Icelandic Farms
26/2/2011 NW Icelandic town of Isafjordur– milk causing pandemonium. Dioxin & dioxin-like compounds, found to be present in amounts higher than the recommended maximum levels, threatening the future of local farmers & angering residents.
Tested milk came from a farm located in a valley only 1.5 kms from a waste-burning incinerator that was closed by the authorities last year due to consistently high levels of pollutants
“The emission levels are measured per cubic metre in the exhaust from the incinerator rather than total emissions. As a result, an incinerator that burns more waste but has a lower emission measurement can emit more dioxin,” explains Sigridur Kristjansdottir from the EAI. In 2007, the Environment Agency of Iceland (EAI) measured emissions from waste incinerators. According to regulations of the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, maximum emission levels of dioxin should not exceed 0.1 ng/m3.
“The emission levels are measured per cubic metre in the exhaust from the incinerator rather than total emissions. As a result, an incinerator that burns more waste but has a lower emission measurement can emit more dioxin,” explains Sigridur Kristjansdottir from the EAI.
However, in 2007, emission levels in Isafjordur were 21 times the maximum EC regulation level.
In addition, concern has arisen in the small town of Kirkjubaejarklaustur, in South Iceland, where dioxin levels were recorded at 95 times the maximum exposure level in 2007. And in Vestmannaeyjar, an island just off South Iceland, the dioxin level was 84 times the maximum exposure standard.
In all three cases, the results were sent to the Ministry for the Environment but were not released publicly.
In Kirkjubaejarklaustur, the waste incinerator is located in the same complex as the local school, sports centre, swimming pool, and music school. The original plan had been to use the waste heat from the incinerator to heat the surrounding buildings.
Published on South China Morning Post (http://www.scmp.com)
Home > No cover-up over leak at Tuen Mun landfill, says Christine Loh
No cover-up over leak at Tuen Mun landfill, says Christine Loh
Friday, 30 August, 2013, 9:54pm
News›Hong Kong
Stuart Lau stuart.lau@scmp.com
An environment official assured the public yesterday that there had been no cover-up about a waste leak from a landfill and vowed to be open in handling questions about it.
Christine Loh Kung-wai, Acting Secretary for the Environment, said there had been only one instance so far of effluent leaking from the Ta Kwu Ling rubbish dump, as the Environmental Protection Department officers had reported on Wednesday.
And despite residents’ fears, it was “not true” that there had been a similar leak at the Tuen Mun landfill.
Loh said officers who went to the Tuen Mun facility after receiving complaints found that the pollution was a mix of surface runoff and soil, not leachate, the toxic moisture that oozes from stacked rubbish.
It was the first time a political appointee from the Environment Bureau had responded to accusations that there had been a cover-up because the government had taken a month to disclose the Ta Kwu Ling leak.
Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing is expected to resume work today after a holiday.
Loh said no health or ecological damage had resulted from the Ta Kwu Ling incident and promised the bureau would continue to take questions and inquiries about the site.
“We want to be, and I think we are being, open and transparent. Of course we welcome your continuing questions,” she said.
The bureau would arrange a site visit for the Legislative Council environmental affairs panel tomorrow.
Source URL (retrieved on Aug 31st 2013, 9:29pm): http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1300762/landfill-leakage-claims-dismissed
Links:
[1] http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1300430/environmental-authorities-draw-fire-over-ta-kwu-ling-landfill-leak
[2] http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1300175/ta-kwu-ling-landfill-waste-leaks-nearby-rivers