§ Mr. Andrew MacKayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the results of testing for dioxins in emissions from the Coalite works, Bolsover, carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution, will be available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryHer Majesty's inspectorate of pollution today released a report on its investigation into dioxins in emissions from the Coalite chemical works incinerator and the Coalite smokeless fuel plant.
The maximum emission of dioxins to atmosphere, calculated on the basis of the measurements made, from the stack on the Coalite Chemicals incinerator was 18 nanogram/m3 (toxic equivalent). The maximum measured emission of dioxins to atmosphere at Coalite Fuels was 1.2 nanogram/m3 (toxic equivalent)
Based on the maximum emission level recorded during the sampling, calculation of the atmospheric dispersion of dioxins from the two Coalite plants gives a maximum predicted concentration in air at groundlevel of 0.05 picogram/m3 and an associated rate of deposition of 0.0006 picogram/m2/s. The calculation suggests that these air concentrations and deposition rates would occur in the vicinity of the farms that currently have restrictions placed upon their milk. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has concluded from the results that such emissions from the Coalite Chemical incinerator would probably account for only a part of the dioxins which have been found in the milk on the affected farms. The atmospheric discharges from Coalite Fuels contribute only a few per cent. of the values reported.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution is to test for dioxins in soil samples taken at various distances around the Coalite plants, to complement the work already being undertaken by MAFF. The work is expected to begin in the new year and will take six months to complete.
The incinerator at Coalite Chemicals was closed down by the company during November, to allow substantial modifications to it. When it has been redesigned it will be regulated by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which requires control on releases to all media.