Cambridge News 26/05/2010

Health fears over chemical site
Villagers are blaming a massive clean-up operation at a former chemical factory for making them feel unwell.

Soil at the old Bayer CropScience site in Hauxton is being decontaminated ahead of the construction of 380 homes, but the work is giving off nasty odours.

Reports of sore throats, headaches and tight chests in the area have been attributed to the work, which is due to continue until September 2011, and now a special website has been set up to keep families informed (www.scambs.gov.uk/bayersite ). The smells are being released from underground as contaminated soil is dug up.

Air quality from around the site is being checked daily and the Health Protection Agency has advised that levels of compounds identified so far are "unlikely" to pose a risk to health. Residents can download an "odour log" from South Cambs District Council’s website to keep track of any problems. Cllr Janet Lockwood, who represents Harston and Hauxton on the authority, said a strong northerly wind had pushed the smells towards homes at the start of work.

She said: "There’s no doubt the site has to be cleaned up because otherwise it would be a risk to the River Cam. "The work is probably going to go on for the next two years so it’s very important people with health concerns log them, because otherwise they are just hearsay and we can’t do anything with that."

The smells come from the production of pesticides and herbicides over many years and the company which is doing the work for Harrow Estates, Vertase, is using deodorising systems to mask whiffs from excavation and treatment.

Geoff Brighty, the Environment Agency’s area manager, said feedback from neighbours had already led to a change in working practices, and that the smells would probably be intermittent until the work is completed. He said: "It is particularly important that people tell us the exact time and date when they noticed the smells so we can compare this with weather patterns and wind directions to identify when problems might occur and alter working practices if necessary."

The council and Environment Agency have received more than 100 calls about the work since it started, but just a handful reported health complaints. Anyone with health concerns should contact their doctor or NHS Direct. Chris Havergal

More information:
· Cambridge Evening News 'This could be a catastrophe if things go wrong': www.cbgnetwork.org/3031.html
· BBC News “Soil clean up at chemical plant causes unpleasant smell”:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/england/cambridgeshire/10162571.stm

Coalition against BAYER Dangers
www.CBGnetwork.org (in English)
 CBGnetwork@aol.com
Tel: (+49) 211-333 911 Fax: (+49) 211-333 940
please send an e-mail for receiving the English newsletter Keycode BAYER free of charge

Advisory Board
Prof. Juergen Junginger, designer, Krefeld,
Prof. Dr. Juergen Rochlitz, chemist, former member of the Bundestag, Burgwald
Wolfram Esche, attorney, Cologne
Dr. Sigrid Müller, pharmacologist, Bremen
Prof. Rainer Roth, social scientist, Frankfurt
Eva Bulling-Schroeter, member of the Bundestag, Berlin
Prof. Dr. Anton Schneider, biologist, Neubeuern
Dr. Janis Schmelzer, historian, Berlin
Dr. Erika Abczynski, pediatrician, Dormagen

Please help us. Our international campaigns are expensive to run. We receive no public support and depend entirely on your donations.