Department of Health

A-Z site index | Search | Links | Contact DH | Help




	DH Home




	You are here: COMEAP > Statements and reports


	< Previous page

COMEAP statement on the acute effects of air pollution on the respiratory health of children in West Glamorgan

1. The Department of Health Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants considered the report on the Acute Effects of Air Pollution on the Respiratory Health of Children in West Glamorgan (Welsh Combined Centres for Public Health, October 1997) at a meeting held on 20 February 1998.

2. The Committee concluded that the report, which was carefully prepared and reflected a well planned study, did not support the assertion that asthma was more common in an area close to an opencast coal mine (Glynneath) than in areas distant from such industry. It was accepted that an association between Peak Expiratory Flow Rate in children and daily PM₁₀ levels had been demonstrated in the summer months in Glynneath but not in the other areas studied. It was not possible to say whether or not this effect was linked to exposure to dust generated by opencast mining.

3. The Committee noted that no data on the contribution of opencast mining and other sources to local PM₁₀ levels were presented in the report. There was also a lack of data on the PM₁₀ monitoring methods used.

4. The Committee concluded that more work was needed before a definitive opinion on the effects of opencast mining on the health of local populations could be given and pointed out that the Department of Health/Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions funded study currently underway in Newcastle should provide important information on this.

Top