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Monday, 14 May 2007, 12:13 GMT 13:13 UK

Poisoned water inquiry concludes

Lowermoor treatment works, Camelford An official inquiry into water contamination in a Cornish town in 1988 has concluded.

No findings have yet been published about the incident when 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate entered water supplies in Camelford.

Up to 20,000 people in and around the town were affected in 1988.

The report on whether exposure to chemicals resulted in ill-health will be reviewed by the Food Standards Agency's Committee on Toxicity.

It will then be passed onto the Health and Environment ministers.

Local representatives said they would be recommending future action to ensure people affected had been tested for ill-health and received on-going care.

The aluminium sulphate entered the water supply after it was delivered into the wrong tank at the former South West Water Authority (SWWA) water treatment works at Lowermoor.

A 2005 draft inquiry report said it was unlikely that the chemicals involved in the incident would have caused any persistent or delayed health effects but recommended further research.

The final inquiry, carried out by a Committee of Toxicity (Lowermoor Subgroup), was asked to investigate whether the incident resulted in ill-health and to advise whether the monitoring of community health should be increased.

People across a large area of north Cornwall were exposed to levels of aluminium 500 to 3,000 times the acceptable limit defined by the European Union.




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Related to this story:
Poisoned water inquest is delayed (27 Mar 07 |  Cornwall )
Call to test poisoned water users (20 Apr 06 |  Cornwall )
Water poisoning evidence is heard (20 Dec 05 |  Cornwall )
Camelford husband meets experts (19 Dec 05 |  Cornwall )
Questions over toxic water tests (15 Dec 05 |  Cornwall )
Disease link to water poisoning (15 Dec 05 |  Cornwall )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Lowermoor Sub-group report
Department of Health
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