Third Severely Deformed Chick Born Near Anglesey Pyre

A third severely deformed chick has been born on a free-range farm close to the Anglesey pyre site heightening concerns of environmentalists. Two chicks, with deformities not seen before in the lifetime of the farmer, were born some weeks ago prompting calls from green campaigners Friends of the Earth (FOE) Cymru for the authorities to issue health warnings and carry out an investigation (1).

The campaigners are concerned that the severe deformities and the much reduced hatching rate of the farm birds may indicate a concentration of toxins, possibly dioxins, in the area around the pyre. Last Friday the Food Standards Agency issued some general public health warnings about drinking milk from dairy herds grazing around pyre sites due to concerns about raised dioxin levels.

Following the latest incidents FOE Cymru are calling again on the Assembly and or the Food Standards Agency to fund an investigation quickly as public health could be at risk. Recently, a leading toxicologist from Liverpool University visited the farm and took some samples. The University needs £2,000 to carry out dioxin tests on selected samples and FOE Cymru has called on the Assembly to fund the tests.

Neil Crumpton spokesperson for FOE Cymru said:
"The farmer has said that the hatching rate for the eggs is around 10% when normally it is over 80%. Now, a third severely deformed chick has been born and had to be destroyed. So we call again on the Assembly or the Food Standards Agency to announce and conduct an investigation into these incidents rapidly. They should also issue public health warnings about consuming any farm produce including eggs and vegetables, as well as milk, produced in the locality of carcass pyres."

Notes

1) PRESS RELEASE IMMEDIATE Tuesday 1st May 2001

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 been repeatedly warning 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 both are still suffering symptoms of excessive smoke inhalation themselves, such as sore throats, having been 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 takes 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. So, 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

25/04/01

The UK health ministry 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 (http://www.doh.gov.uk/) and
Effects on Health of Emissions from Pyres Used for Disposal of Animals (www.doh.gov.uk/fmdguidance/pyrereport.pdf)
and Measures to minimise risk to Public Health from Slaughter and Disposal of Animals
(www.doh.gov.uk/fmdguidance/fmdsummary.pdf).