Home > Press releases > 1999
26 Apr 1999
New research published today by Friends of the Earth shows - for the
first time ever in Britain - exactly how industrial pollution hits the
poor hardest. FOE is sending the results to the Prime Minister and the
No10 Social Exclusion Unit, and is demanding that the environment be
given a higher priority in Government policies designed to tackle poverty
and urban deprivation.
Using data from FOE's “Factorywatch” project ( www.foe.co.uk/factorywatch),
and income data for every postcode sector in the country [1], the research
shows that:
. There are 662 polluting factories in the UK
in areas with average household income of less than £15,000, and
only 5 in postcode areas where average household income is £30,000
or more
. The more factories in an area, the lower the
average income. In Teesside, one area has 17 large factories. Average
income in the area is just £6,200 - 64% less than the national
average
. The poorest families (defined as household
incomes of less than £5,000) are twice as likely to have a polluting
factory in their immediate area as families with an income of £60,000
or more
. In London, over 90% of polluting factories
are in areas with below average income,and in the North East, the figure
is over 80%.
In 1996 (the latest available data), the factory with the worst record
in the UK (Associated Octel in the South Wirral) released more than
5,300 tonnes of carcinogens into the air.Health-threatening chemicals
released across the UK included:
. Sulphur Dioxide 1.28
million tonnes
. Nitrogen Oxide 0.65
million tonnes
. Carbon Monoxide 0.17
million tonnes
. Particulates 0.05
million tonnes
. Hydrogen Chloride 8,400
tonnes
. Ammonia 4,100
tonnes
(Full details on the health effects of these chemicals are given
on the Factorywatch website)
The UK is a signatory of the World Health Organisation's European Charter
on Public Health which states that “the health of every individual,
especially those in vulnerable and high-risk groups, must be protected.
Special attention should be given to disadvantaged groups”.
In 1998, Public Health Minister Tessa Jowell admitted that “more
people suffer from poor health in the most deprived areas due to a range
of factors including ... pollution.” FOE is calling for an
80% reduction in the amount of hazardous material released to air,water
and land by 2005. FOE also wants a programme of comprehensive health
studies around major sources of pollution.
Commenting, FOE Senior Pollution Campaigner Mike Childs said:
“Clearly, it is the poorest who are
hit hardest by industrial pollution. On top of unemployment and deprivation,
these communities face the grime and ill-health caused by industrial
pollution. Here, the environment is as far from a middle class concern
as it can get.
The Government has yet to put forward any plans
to tackle pollution injustice. Until they do, the poorer members of
our society will continue to suffer from dangerous levels of pollution.
Social exclusion can't be properly tackled unless the environment is
put right at the top of the agenda.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
[1] Data supplied to FOE by the independent
consultancy Business Geographics and Kingswood Ltd.MapGuide software
was kindly donated by Autodesk Ltd
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
