§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government's health advisers have now examined the evidence on exposure of the public to benzene in the atmosphere and its possible implications for public health; what conclusions have been reached; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellAt a preliminary discussion recently the Department of Health's independent committee on carcinogenicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment (COC) concluded that benzene is a human carcinogen for which it is prudent to assume no safe level of exposure. This accords with the view of the International Agency for Research on Cancer and is based on evidence from heavily exposed occupational groups. Exposure of the general population from benzene in the environment, food and drink is at an extremely low level. The committee is now considering information on exposure levels including occupational exposures in order better to assess the risk to public health. Meanwhile the Department advises that exposure should be reduced as low as reasonably achievable.