§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 March,Official Report, column 556, to the hon. Member for Newport West (Mr. Flynn), on protection against hydrocarbons, what are the interim results of the quantitative and qualitative analysis of longer-term effects of hydrocarbons released, undertaken in liaison with United States and Saudi environmental health officials.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonWork is continuing on the analysis of the long-term effects of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. However, they are not expected to cause skin problems, provided exposure is intermittent and short. The current consensus also suggests that there is no risk of ill-effects to the lungs arising from short-term exposure and only small risks as a result of long-term exposure. Commercially available protective masks have now been issued to British service personnel to reduce inhalation of hydrocarbons.