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COMEAP statement on the possible health effects of air pollutants in the Clitheroe area
October 1997

The Committee has examined the summary of the monitoring data published by the Environment Agency and further data collected since July of this year on local concentrations of volatile organic compounds.

The Committee recognises that the general concentrations of sulphur dioxide and particulates in the area do not appear to be exceptional, although data were not available to make comparisons with other parts of the United Kingdom. Nor is there any persuasive evidence that general levels of air pollution in the area are a cause for concern. Nevertheless, complaints of deterioration in air quality appear to coincide with short-term peaks of sulphur dioxide and plume grounding events arising from Castle Cement. Complaints occurred at a similar level when either Secondary Liquid Fuel (SLF - in this case, Cemfuel) or coal were burnt. The burning of SLF does not appear to prevent such incidents from occurring.

The Committee has had some additional data of volatile organic compounds made available to it. The Committee notes that the Environment Agency intends to publish this data in due course. From the limited data made available, it does not appear that the burning of SLF has had any effect on the levels of such compounds found in the area.

The Committee notes the intention to fit a scrubber to one of the main stacks at Castle Cement and the Agency requirement that the company prevents persistent haze and offensive odours beyond the perimeter by 1 April 1998.

The Committee notes the Agency's commitment to keep the situation under review and that, in the period after April 1998, it will be considering the need to repeat its monitoring campaign, or some parts of it. The Committee wishes to review the situation in June 1998.

The Committee does not consider that the air pollution data that are currently available warrant a study of the health of the local population. It is accepted that acute (short-term) effects have sometimes occurred. The data do not support the contention that air quality in the area is significantly worse when SLF is burned as compared with coal.

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