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FOE publishes guide to grossly polluting factories
8 February 1999
Friends of the Earth today launches the most comprehensive guide to industrial pollution ever produced in the UK.
The unique database - displayed on a ground-breaking free Internet site (/factorywatch/) - uses official pollution data from the Government's Environment Agency. It provides full information about the pollution and health risks from 440 chemicals, emitted to air, water and ground by over 1,500 factories. It can be used to give local information based on your postcode, town or region. It can give information about health risks including carcinogens, reproductive toxins, and asthma-causing chemicals.
For the first time ever people in Britain will be able to:
. find out which major sources of pollution affect them, and which factories and companies are responsible
. get reliable data on the health risks of chemicals from these factories
. get the information in simple language, with maps, graphs, pie charts and tables
. create league tables of polluting companies, factories and chemicals: locally;regionally and nationally
. get information about how to campaign against these polluters, including FOE's“Factory Watch Campaign Guide”
. register via e-mail to receive regular information and campaign updates
Commenting, FOE Executive Director Charles Secrett said:
“We can now give any member of the public free and simple information about pollution threats in their area and across the country. This remarkable database should of course be provided by Government, but we are proud to fill the gap that they have left. Citizens have the right to this essential information. It is key to the accountability of companies in a democratic society. And it gives every ordinary person in the country the power to confront the industrial polluters head on”.
NOTE: Access to the FOE website before the Monday embargo time is by password only. Please ring thePress Office for details
If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
