§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of(a) the Environment Agency figures released by her Department on the levels of dioxins in ash from the Edmonton incinerator and (b) the levels as measured by an independent body. [20763]
§ Mr. MeacherMixed processed ash from the Edmonton incinerator was stockpiled at a site in Dagenham.
112WThe sampling and analysis commissioned by the Environment Agency were done by non-agency staff. The results accord with those of the tests commissioned by Collease Ltd. (the trailer hire company operating near the site).
The analyses show considerable variation of dioxin levels in the ash. Collease sampled the stockpile from an unknown place and in an unknown manner using their own containers; analysis of these samples showed a range of around 70 to 1,170 ng/Kg I-TEQ. Sampling and testing commissioned by the agency showed a range of 17 to 1,100 ng/Kg I-TEQ.