§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now publish the figures for cadmium levels in the soil and in vegetables in Shipham.
§ Mr. Denis HowellComprehensive information about levels of cadmium in soil and vegetables at Shipham will be provided by the survey which is now in progress. Preliminary sampling carried out by scientists at Imperial College indicated that soil levels ranged between 11 and 998 parts per million. Cadmium in food is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and he is writing to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been done on average daily intake of cadmium through absorption by the lungs in different areas of Great Britain.
§ Mr. Denis HowellCadmium levels in air are monitored regularly at a small number of sites throughout the United Kingdom. Even in urban areas, averages rarely exceed 0.02 microgrammes per cubic metre, and uptake of cadmium from the air is insignificant.
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§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now initiate checks on cadmium concentrations in the soil and in vegetables in all housing developments on or near zinc or cadmium mines, whether used or disused.
§ Mr. Denis HowellImperial College has been asked to investigate the possibility of carrying out detailed soil sampling in the other areas shown in its general survey as having the most elevated cadmium levels. It is considered most unlikely, however, that other sites will be found with concentrations of cadmium which would justify more detailed surveys like that being carried out at Shipham.