Deformed Chicks Born Near Anglesey Pyre - Dioxin Contamination?

Two chicks have been born with severe deformities on a free range farm 200 yards from the Gaerwen pyre site on Anglesey. Friends of the Earth Cymru believe that the deformities could be linked to highly toxic dioxins produced by the nearby carcass pyre and believe that the Assembly should investigate the incident and issue appropriate warnings.

The pyre which burned for 4.5 days several weeks ago contained several thousand pigs and sheep and importantly railway sleepers that are a particular hazard regarding dioxin formation. FOE Cymru has repeatedly warned about the public health dangers of such dioxin contamination and other pollutants - three times in the last week (also see email below to NAW committees last Thursday - foetal development is potentially linked)

The farmer says he has not seen any deformities like these (no lower legs, deformed beak) in over 15 years of farming. The gestation period of chicks is 21-24 days. The large pyre was possibly less than 200 yards from the farmhouse. The farmer and his wife are both still suffering symptoms of excessive smoke inhalation themselves, such as sore throats They were given little if any official advice or possibly consideration.

FOE Cymru consider that two unusual farm bird deformity cases so close to a probable major dioxin source (possibly more than 0.5 grams) is suspicious and may indicate the presence of dioxins or other pollutants from the pyres. A government report has indicated the possibility of localised dioxin pollution as a public health risk.

Considering that people may be eating food produced locally downwind or stream of pyres across the UK and more burning is taking place every day, government warnings about dioxins would be useful in the group's view.

Neil Crumpton, spokesperson for Friends of the Earth Cymru said:
"Two severely deformed chicks born so close to a carcass pyre is suspicious in our view. Such pyres have produced large amounts of highly toxic dioxins which can have hormonal effects in humans. Foetal development is considered to be linked. We believe that the relevant authorities should investigate this incident and give appropriate advice about eating farm produce from the locality of carcass pyres."

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UK confirms health risks from carcass pyres
ENDS Daily - 25/04/01
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The UK health ministry risk has admitted that current mass burning of livestock to control foot and mouth disease is probably causing exceedence of air quality standards downwind from pyres.

Anyone less than 2 kilometres downwind of fires is likely to have dioxin intake above officially determined safe levels, according to a health ministry computer model. The model also suggests that levels in air of sulphur dioxide and fine particulates (PM10) will both exceed health limits up to 3.5km and 3km from fires respectively.

In a separate initiative, the ministry yesterday recommended keeping any pyre burning over 250 animals at least 2km away from habitations and large pyres of more than 1,000 carcasses at least 3km away. It warned that asthma sufferers might experience a "temporary worsening of their condition". Residents less than 0.5km from a fire would be "exposed to high concentrations of irritants including sulphur dioxide and particles".

Follow-up: UK health ministry tel: +44 20 7210 4850 and
Effects on Health of Emissions from Pyres Used for Disposal of Animals
and Measures to minimise risk to Public Health from Slaughter and Disposal of Animals