§ Sir David PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his latest estimate of the number of British people who die each year from diseases related to environmental pollution; and what are the Government's plans to reduce that number.
§ Mr. Freeman[holding answer 4 July 1989]: There is no clear evidence that deaths occur as a result of current levels of pollution of the environment by man with chemical agents. Past exposure to high levels of air pollutants may still have some influence on current death rates, but discharges to the environment are now controlled so as to provide large safety margins or, in the case of substances potentially toxic at very low dose, by ensuring a very small risk.
191WThere is no scientific basis for estimating the total impact of many substances occurring simultaneously in the environment at trace levels, but it is considered to be small compared with lifestyle factors such as smoking. The Government, on advice from a number of advisory committees, monitor for possible environmental causes of disease and will act to prevent or limit potentially harmful exposures whenever they are identified. In the meanwhile, the Government encourage prudence in the use of chemicals or potentially polluting technologies. In particular the Government are engaged in updating the arrangements for pollution control to ensure that these are integrated, wide-ranging and effective.