Archived press release

Childhood cancer and leukaemia: new link to industrial pollution. john gummer presented with toxic challenge

10 April 1997

John Gummer, Secretary of State for the Environment, will today be presented with a 'toxic pollution' challenge at a meeting with Friends of the Earth in Avonmouth, Bristol [1] at 12.15 pm to coincide with the publication of research that reveals that "children born near sources of atmospheric industrial pollution are about 20 per cent more likely to die of leukaemia and non-blood cancers, before they reach adulthood." [2].

Friends of the Earth research has revealed that not only are high levels of cancer-causing pollutants being released in Avonmouth [3], Bristol, but local people are being kept in the dark about pollution levels [4]. Friends of the Earth is challenging John Gummer to reduce toxic pollution and make the following pledges to make sure people have the legal the Right to Know about toxic pollution:

1. a legal right to know about toxic and polluting releases to air, water and land;
2. a legal right to know about where waste is being taken for disposal (landfill,incineration, etc) or treatment (recycling);
3. a legal right to know about the movements of hazardous wastes or substances through their neighbourhood;
4. a legal right to know about dangerous substances stored at factories within their area.
5. information in a readily available form that is understandable and accessible;
6. league tables of the top polluters, details of illegal pollution and the official actions taken to deal with it.

These pledges would give substance to a promise made by John Major in 1991 to enable people to be environmental watchdogs through giving them environmental information [4].

Mike Childs, Senior Pollution Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:
"This research shows that toxic pollution kills children. The next Government must take action to tackle this nightmare and provide the people with the information they need to protect their health. If we can have league tables of schools and hospitals it's daft that we don't have league tables of worst polluters. With good quality information local people can force these polluting industries to clean-up"

Belinda Stonehouse, of Bristol Friends of the Earth said
" We are working with the residents of Avonmouth in trying to fight toxic pollution but a lack of understandable information makes this virtually impossible. We are well aware that in the USA a good right to know has led to reductions in pollution whilst increasing company profits. We believe that cleaning up industry is good for health,good for jobs and good for the economy."

NOTES TO EDITOR

[1] The meeting will be held at 12.15 pm at Stoke Gifford Council Halls, Little Stoke Lane,Little Stoke, Bristol. John Gummer will be presented with a large six point challenge. There will be a demonstration outside the hall with people dressed in white protective suits and holding a huge banner saying 'Toxic Right to Know'.

[2] Professor George Knox, Hazard proximities of childhood cancers in Great Britain in 1953-80, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, published today.

[3] Friends of the Earth, Toxics in your backyard, April 1996. The research revealed that,for example, 7.5 tonnes of cancer-causing benzene was released into the air by Sevalco in 1995 (1995 data is the latest available), and Britannia Zinc released 1.5 tonnes of cancer-causing cadmium into the air in 1996. An explosion at Albright & Wilson in October 1996 released up to 13 tonnes of cancer-causing epiclorohydrin.

[4] The research involved looking through and analysing data from little known files at the Environment Agency and Bristol City Council. At a meeting of local residents it was discovered that they did not know that public registers existed, despite campaigning against pollution for a number of years.

[4] John Major said in a Sunday Times Conference in 1991 "Every individual, every group will in future have access to the information they need in order to act as an environmental watchdog. This information is the citizen's right, and the Active Citizen will use that right constructively."
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