Doctor raises incinerator fears

A computer-generated image of how the Ardley incinerator could look

A retired GP has claimed that a proposed incinerator in Oxfordshire could increase heart attacks and cancer rates, and lower children's IQ levels.

Dr Dick Van Steenis will address protesters against plans for an energy-from-waste (EfW) incinerator in Ardley at a meeting on Wednesday evening.

But the the Health Protection Agency said a modern incinerator was unlikely to have an impact on public health.

An incinerator could be built at Ardley or at Sutton Courtenay landfill sites.

Dr Van Steenis, who has been investigating the health effects of incineration plants for 13 years, has been invited to talk by the group Ardley Against The Incinerator.

He said: "When you burn waste you produce fine particles, so that means that most of the production of these fine particles gets out of the incinerator and goes into people's lungs if they happen to be living where the wind blows them.

"A Belgian university study showed that there was 12 years lopped off people's lives, heart attacks rise, cancers rise, the IQ of the children drops so that school performance drops and generally the overall effects are very severe."

The technology has been tried and tested by scientific experts in planning and health arenas time and time again Viridor spokesman

Oxfordshire County Council has invited two companies to bid to build an incinerator, at either at Ardley or Sutton Courtenay.

Up to 300,000 tonnes would be incinerated to generate electricity.

Waste management company Viridor, which wants to build at Ardley near Bicester, unveiled its proposals last week.

It is in competition with the Waste Recycling Group which wants to build an incinerator at Sutton Courtenay.

Both proposals have attracted local opposition although the county council could award a contract next year.

In a statement, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said incinerators had to adhere to regulatory requirements, including the Waste Incinerator Directive, which monitor output and are regulated by the Environment Agency.

It added: "The HPA is satisfied that a well-managed and well-regulated modern incinerator will be highly unlikely to have an impact upon the health of the public."

A spokesman for Viridor said: "Dr Dick Van Steenis... has been a prominent opponent to EfW for years, but has remained isolated in the face of the tide of scientific opinion and significant weight of research that has shown EfW to be a safe and efficient technology.

"EfW plants are today operating safely and efficiently across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.

"The technology has been tried and tested by scientific experts in planning and health arenas time and time again."

Councillor Roger Belson, Oxfordshire County Council's member for sustainable development, said: "This campaign group's claims are based on so-called research that is not published, is not referenced, and, crucially, lacks any detailed methodology.

"We challenge the campaigners to come up with proof to back up what they are saying."