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Govt. Slammed for Pouring Cold Water on Birth Defect Risk
16 August 2001
Commenting on today's (Thursday 16 August) news reports that the Government is attempting to avert a health scare over landfill sites, Mike Childs, Campaigns Director at Friends of the Earth, said:
“The Government should not be pouring cold water on this research. The research does suggest there is an increased risk of birth defect for babies born near landfill sites. That is a matter for public concern. Clearly there are some uncertainties with the research, as there is with all research, but we need to recognise that it was produced by a well respected research body and it was funded by the Government.We do need further research but we also need the Government to take precautionary action to reduce waste and landfill.”
He added:
"The Government has said the risk is less than that caused by cigarette smoking, but this is completely irrelevant to the issue. For most mothers, foetal exposure to harm from landfills is an involuntary and unknown risk. It is also avoidable if the Government had acted with more urgency to reduce the volume of waste going to landfill in the first place."
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
