Landfill Sites (Hansard, 13 February 2002)

§ Mr. Llwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned regarding the health risks to children living in close proximity to landfill sites. [32241]

§ Yvette Cooper
The Department, together with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency, has commissioned the following reviews and research projects on the impacts of health on landfill sites:

1. A review of existing data to assess whether substances emanating from landfill sites have potential to cause congenital malformations (birth defects).

2. A review of the known causes of congenital malformations,

3. A study of the geographical variation in overall rates of congenital anomalies and the rates of specific anomalies, and

4. Exposure assessment of landfill sites. A Government-funded study of birth outcomes and selected cancers in populations living near landfill sites, carried out by the Small Area Health Statistics Unit, was published in August 2001. A copy of the report is available in the Library and on the Department's website. Further information on the research programme can also be found on the website www.doh.gov.uk/landh.htm

§ Mr. Llwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding health risks to families living in close proximity to landfill sites. [32239]

§ Yvette Cooper
The Department is aware of a number of research studies published in the scientific literature which investigate health outcomes in people living near landfill sites. These have been considered by the Department, which has sought advice from the independent expert advisory committee, the Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT). They felt that it was not possible to draw any definite conclusions regarding possible health effects from these studies and further research was warranted. The most recent statement by the COT is available on the Department's website www.doh.gov.uk/landh.htm. We have commissioned a programme of work on the impacts on health of landfill sites, details of which are also available on the website, and the Department continues to monitor relevant publications.