§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken since 1966 to monitor(a) the land in Smarden, Kent, contaminated by 80W the chemical fluoroacetamide in 1963 and (b) the Atlantic waters where topsoil from the contaminated land was deposited. [33544]
§ Mr. Clappison[holding answer 18 June 1996]: The central veterinary laboratory at Weybridge, now part of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, assisted with the investigation into the Smarden poisoning incident. The outcome of the investigation was published in the veterinary record on 19 April, 1969, copies of which will be placed in the Library of the House. Given the amount of time that has elapsed, the files on the incident no longer exist. The only other work of which the CVL is aware was carried out on soil samples to decide when the land could be returned to normal agricultural use. It should be noted that fluoroacetamide biodegrades within a few months when in contact with soil.
The Atlantic waters where the contaminated topsoil was deposited have not been monitored in relation to this action. The deep-water disposal of the contaminated soil, set in concrete and sealed in steel drums, posed no threat to fish or their food safety. Fluoroacetamide is not toxic to fish and it will not bioaccumulate in them. The chemical is highly soluble in water, so any leakage from the drums would be rapidly diluted and dispersed by the currents. It is therefore probable that the chemical would have degraded soon after being dumped at sea.