Potential health effects

Evidence from the scientific literature makes clear that, with the exception of high dose acute exposures (e.g. from major accidents or deliberate poisoning), the important factor in determining whether adverse health effects will occur in an individual is the total amount of dioxins in the body.  This builds up from exposure over the long term.

The major route of human exposure is from food (90%). The UK has adopted an upper intake level (Tolerable Daily Intake) following recommendations from an independent Committee on Toxicity. The levels of dioxins in food depend mainly on levels in the environment.

Overall emissions of dioxins into the environment have reduced considerably in the UK over the last 10 years. It is estimated that municipal waste accounts for only about 1% of the UK emissions of dioxins originating approximately equally between incineration and emissions from burning of landfill gas. Domestic sources such as cooking and burning coal for heating are the UK’s single largest source of dioxins emissions accounting for about 18%.

Partnerships

To address public concern the UK public health authorities (Health Protection Agency, National Public Health Service, and Food Standards Agency) worked in partnership (under an agreed Memorandum of Understanding) to establish a health advisory group mechanism to appropriately undertake a risk assessment.

The multi-agency group considered a range of available local information which included emissions data, milk and environmental (soil) samples from the locality of the industrial process, environmental modelling, together with expert advice on the health risks of dioxins which is provided in the UK by the independent advisory committee, the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT).

Risk Assessment and Risk Communication

Having considered the exposure assessment the Advisory group concluded that it was unlikely that there would be an increased risk of adverse health effects from short term elevated emissions to air of dioxins arising from the industrial process in such circumstances.

The partnership approach ensured that an informed and consistent specialist opinion was made available to the statutory health and government agencies at the local level.

This information was communicated to the local community via a variety of methods.