§ Mr. GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of deaths caused by emissions of nitrous oxides in each of the past three years;. [136098]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effects on human health of nitrous oxides emissions from waste incinerators; and if he will make a statement; [136100]
(3) what estimate he has made of the amount of nitrous oxides that will be emitted by waste incinerators in each of the next three years. [136099]
579W
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 2 November 2000]: I assume the hon. Member means "nitrogen oxides", often referred to as "nox" (NOx), of which nitrogen dioxide forms a large proportion and which is regarded as the main pollutant of health concern within NOx.
At relatively high concentrations, nitrogen dioxide causes inflammation of the airways. There is evidence to show that long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide may affect lung function and that nitrogen dioxide may enhance the response of sensitised individuals to allergens. Studies have reported associations between respiratory hospital admissions and nitrogen dioxide levels but it is unclear whether this effect is due to nitrogen dioxide itself or to particles which often increase at the same time as nitrogen dioxide. The source of the nitrogen dioxide is not relevant.
The Government have not estimated deaths caused by NOx emissions. The 1998 report of the Department of Health's Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants "Quantification of the Effects of Air Pollution on Health in the United Kingdom" (copies of which are in the House Libraries) considered that, although there was some evidence of an effect of nitrogen dioxide on mortality, this was too uncertain to use to quantify numbers of deaths. However, nitrogen oxides contribute to the formation of secondary particles (nitrates) and ozone. Deaths brought forward by ozone and particles were quantified by COMEAP. COMEAP did not ascribe proportions of these deaths to particular ozone precursors such as nitrogen oxides or to particular types of particles such as nitrates.
NAEI NOx emissions estimates Kilotonnes Incineration sector 1998 2001 20051 20101 20151 20201 Sewage sludge 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 Poultry litter 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 Municipal waste 5.2 4.0 12.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 Total incineration 5.8 4.6 12.6 21.6 21.6 21.6 All sources 1,753 1,559 1,354 1,167 1,068 1,076 Percentage from incineration 0.3 0.3 0.9 1.9 2.0 2.0 1 Projections based on various assumptions derived from 'Energy Projections for the UK (Working Paper)', March 2000, EPTAC Directorate DTI Source:
UK Emissions of Air Pollutants 1970–98, J. W. L. Goodwin, A. G. Salway, T. P. Murrells, C. J. Dore and H. S. Eggleston October 2000 (www.aeat.co.uk/netcen/airqual/)