§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been conducted by her Department on the effects of the toxic ash particles upon the human lung produced during the burning of orimulsion.
§ Dr. MawhinneyNone. Biomedical research is a matter for the Medical Research Council which is funded by the Office of Science and Technology.
The burning of orimulsion produces relatively high levels of sulphur dioxide, vanadium and nickel compared with other fuels. However, owing to tight controls being implemented as a result of European Community directives, trace quantities of toxic chemicals which are emitted from incinerators and other combustion processes, should not be at levels which would be expected to cause adverse health effects.