The
HPA's current position that well run and regulated modern MWIs are not
a significant risk to public health remains valid. The new research is
being carried out to extend the evidence base and to provide further
information to the public27 January 2012
The UK's Health Protection Agency is to fund a new study to further extend the evidence base as to whether emissions from modern well run Municipal Waste Incinerators (MWIs) affect human health
The HPA said that its current position that well run and regulated modern MWIs are not a significant risk to public health remains valid, and that this latest study is being carried out to extend the evidence base and to provide further information to the public on this subject.
The study is to be conducted by the Small Area Health Statistics Unit, Imperial College London, and the Environmental Research Group, King's College London, both part of the MRC-HPA Centre for Environment and Health, and is being funded by the HPA.
As part of the study, scientists will research whether there is a potential link between the emissions from MWIs at a distance of up to 10 - 15 kilometres, and health outcomes including low birth weight, still births and infant deaths.
Researchers will also investigate any possible link between emissions from waste incinerators operating in England and Wales and babies born with congenital anomalies, such as cleft palate and spina bifida, in areas where good quality data is available.
The study will estimate emissions exposure by dispersion modelling using data from MWIs that is provided to the Environment Agency as required by their Environmental Permits.
HPA chief executive Justin McCracken said: "It is important to stress that our current position on the potential health effects of well run and regulated modern Municipal Waste Incinerators remains valid."
"This is that while it is not possible to rule out adverse health effects from modern, well regulated municipal waste incinerators with complete certainty, any potential damage to the health of those living close-by is likely to be very small, if detectable," he added.
According to McCracken this view is based on detailed assessments of the effects of air pollutants on health and on the fact that modern and well managed municipal waste incinerators make only a very small contribution to local concentrations of air pollutants.
However, the HPA said that it recognises that there are public concerns about waste incineration and hopes that this study will provide valuable new evidence.
Commenting on the new study, Dan Cooke, external affairs manager for waste to energy operator, Viridor said:
"With energy from waste a key component of UK sustainable waste management, it is right to both continually assess evidence-based research from around the globe in addition to refreshing UK studies to offer further reassurance to government, regulators and communities.
Cooke added that the scientific basis of this proposed project is sensible and Viridor is fully supportive of such robust studies.
"UK waste policies clearly identify the need for essential new recycling and recovery infrastructure and waste planning policy continues to recognise this need. The proposed research should therefore have no impact on development proposals across the UK," concluded Cooke.
The study will start in April 2012 with preliminary results expected in March 2014.
The UK's Health Protection Agency is to fund a new study to further extend the evidence base as to whether emissions from modern well run Municipal Waste Incinerators (MWIs) affect human health
The HPA said that its current position that well run and regulated modern MWIs are not a significant risk to public health remains valid, and that this latest study is being carried out to extend the evidence base and to provide further information to the public on this subject.
The study is to be conducted by the Small Area Health Statistics Unit, Imperial College London, and the Environmental Research Group, King's College London, both part of the MRC-HPA Centre for Environment and Health, and is being funded by the HPA.
As part of the study, scientists will research whether there is a potential link between the emissions from MWIs at a distance of up to 10 - 15 kilometres, and health outcomes including low birth weight, still births and infant deaths.
Researchers will also investigate any possible link between emissions from waste incinerators operating in England and Wales and babies born with congenital anomalies, such as cleft palate and spina bifida, in areas where good quality data is available.
The study will estimate emissions exposure by dispersion modelling using data from MWIs that is provided to the Environment Agency as required by their Environmental Permits.
HPA chief executive Justin McCracken said: "It is important to stress that our current position on the potential health effects of well run and regulated modern Municipal Waste Incinerators remains valid."
"This is that while it is not possible to rule out adverse health effects from modern, well regulated municipal waste incinerators with complete certainty, any potential damage to the health of those living close-by is likely to be very small, if detectable," he added.
According to McCracken this view is based on detailed assessments of the effects of air pollutants on health and on the fact that modern and well managed municipal waste incinerators make only a very small contribution to local concentrations of air pollutants.
However, the HPA said that it recognises that there are public concerns about waste incineration and hopes that this study will provide valuable new evidence.
Commenting on the new study, Dan Cooke, external affairs manager for waste to energy operator, Viridor said:
"With energy from waste a key component of UK sustainable waste management, it is right to both continually assess evidence-based research from around the globe in addition to refreshing UK studies to offer further reassurance to government, regulators and communities.
Cooke added that the scientific basis of this proposed project is sensible and Viridor is fully supportive of such robust studies.
"UK waste policies clearly identify the need for essential new recycling and recovery infrastructure and waste planning policy continues to recognise this need. The proposed research should therefore have no impact on development proposals across the UK," concluded Cooke.
The study will start in April 2012 with preliminary results expected in March 2014.
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New waste to energy facilities may be welcomed in certain countries in Western Europe, but elsewhere it's still a controversial issue. WMW asked several of the leading international industry experts to see how the image of thermal treatment is improving among the public.
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Maximising Electrical Efficiency at Waste to Energy Plants
The practice of incinerating waste from businesses and households began approximately 100 years ago. Since then, the overall purpose of waste incineration has changed from disposing of or reducing the volume of waste, to seeing it as a potential resource to be used as efficiently as possible.Tomorrow's efficient incineration plants will produce even more electricity. But how does this work on a purely technical level?
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