Most waste in the UK has traditionally been disposed of to landfill sites. These can generate public concern about the health effects of emissions with suggested links to a range of health effects including cancer and birth defects, says the HPA.
But, now the Agency has considered studies looking at emissions from sites and research on health effects posed by modern landfill sites and concluded there is little cause for concern for those living nearby.
The Impact on Health of Emissions from Landfill Sites study by toxicologists and environmental scientists from the HPA’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards takes into account the latest advice from the independent Committee on Toxicity (COT). Health risk advice regarding landfills was previously published by Defra in 2004. The new evidence reviewed by HPA does not change the conclusions of that research.
“There are thousands of landfill sites all over the UK and because of that they are a part of modern life,” said Andrew Kibble, a specialist in environmental public health and head of the HPA’s Birmingham chemicals unit.
“Over the years some sites have generated public concern about the possibility of health effects, such as birth defects and cancer, from their emissions.
“The HPA takes such concerns seriously and our report considers published epidemiological studies on possible links between landfill emissions and health effects.
Regulatory controls
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it recognised that the practice of disposing of waste materials to landfill could present a pollution risk and a potential health risk. However, it said that concerns about the health effects of landfill sites often stemmed from historic sites, while modern landfills are subject to strict regulatory controls which require sites to be designed and operated such that there is no significant impact on the environment or human health.
Mr Kibble said: “We asked the independent expert Committee on Toxicity to review the results of levels of chemicals found at the boundaries of a number of landfill sites in a detailed monitoring programme commissioned by the Environment Agency as well as epidemiological studies. The committee concluded that there were no significant health concerns in relation to any findings.
“The HPA has concluded based on the current information on landfill sites, the available epidemiology, the Environment Agency’s monitoring results and the COT’s advice, that a well managed site does not pose a significant risk to human health.”
The report also calls for more research into:
the potential impacts on health of emissions from closed landfill sites;
improving exposure assessments around landfill sites;
the impact of odours from landfill on the health of those living nearby;.
Related links
Mr Kibble added: “The HPA is committed to continuing its exploration of research in this field.
“We will continue to work with bodies such as the Environment Agency to extend the evidence base for any future advice and to further improve toxicological assessments of landfill sites.”
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