81 Milldale Crescent,
Fordhouses,
Wolverhampton.
WV10-6LR.
Telephone:- 01902-783872.
Date:- 16th January-2009.
Dear Doctor Syed,
Mr Roger Grainger of the Environment Agency suggested during our correspondence on the subject of possible health problems associated with the,” Green Waste Process”, that I contact you regarding my wife’s recently diagnosed chest Illness, “Bronchiectasis”.
Background; - My wife has suffered an irritating cough for approximately the past three years, she has never smoked. Following a number of visits to our GP during which we discussed her cough, she was sent for a number of chest X- rays, the results all came back clear. Her cough however continued, we again visited our GP and during that visit we discussed that, we had been continually exposed to a foul, foul smell when working in our garden and found it necessary to keep all windows of our home closed and had established that the foul smell was coming from the local Green Waste facility located in Lawn Lane, Coven, Wolverhampton. This site being located approximately 1300 metres (Measured by equipment) from our home as the crow flies.
From that visit our GP arranged for my wife to see a Dr. Dawkins at New Cross Hospital, who requested she have a CT Scan and blood tests. The results of those tests,”Bronchiectasis” which you are aware is a disease that causes localized irrerversible dilatation of part of the bronchial tree. A chronic productive cough is prominent, occurring in up to 90%of patients suffering with, Bronchiectasis, similar to my wife’s condition, she now needs to use inhalers to achieve relief from her cough.!
Bronchiectasis, we are also told usually stems from various allergic reponses to inhaled,” Fungal Spores” a known by-product of the green waste process technology used at the sites mentioned.
We are aware that current scientific evidence suggests that bio aerosol levels would be only background levels at, 1300 metres, however when this foul smell continues for several days during which my wife and I have visited the local supermarkets and farm shops which are considerably nearer the Lawn Lane facility, we are convinced that being exposed to this foul smell for extended periods cannot be beneficial to one’s health. My wife being a prime example.?
There’s considerable evidence in reports from other action groups throughout the country, 14 in total along with 7 MP’s, which all express varying levels of concern regarding this, “foul smell” and the risk to peoples health living close to a Green Waste facility using similar process technology to that used at both the Wolverhampton and Stourbridge sites. For example take the Stourbridge Green Waste facility where we understand, from Mr.Digger, the Technical officer of the local Action Group, that 10 residents who live close to this facility are,
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Attending Russell’s Hall Hospital for treatment of Aspergillus infections.! Again a disease associated with inhaling the bi-product generated by these types of Green Waste facilities. The Stourbridge site which is operated by Simpro Ltd who are, currently involved in a court action to avoid the sites closure, part of the closure notice we understand was brought on unacceptable health risks to local residents.
One worrying aspect in all of this is that you begin to get the impression when talking to either our local authorities public health departments or in fact Environment Agency staff regards the Lawn Lane Green Waste facility, they wish for any problems associated with possible health risks to just disappear and go away.? For example last year following many, many complaints to the E.A about the foul, foul smell a group of local residents were invited to visit the Lawn Lane facility. During that visit questions were asked of the attending EA officer if omissions from this site posed any health risk the answer given, “No” twelve months later we now understand that statement to be very very untrue.?
Conclusion;
It’s rather interesting, that working with our local MP Mr.Ken Purchase on our problems associated with Lawn Lane, we are currently conducting a survey of, 700 local residents which will establish what concerns, if any, those residents have in respect of possible dangers to their health from being exposed to the foul smell. Initial indications from survey forms received to-date conclude, that a majority believe that the smell is harmful to them or a family member’s health.?
Equally concerning, we have been contacted by a member of staff from one local school who stated that their children complained of feeling sick during school hours when exposed to the foul smell.?
Many residents also commented on their returned forms, demanding a conclusion to the question of possible health risks associated with the foul smell.?
Once we are satisfied survey forms are returned, they will be studied and the conclusions put into a newsletter and distributed to the 700 addresses.
Finally we understand that you are a very busy person, but if you could find time to answer this letter, it would be greatly appreciated.
Yours Sincerely.
Brian H Bromley.
Copies;-
Mr.Ken Purchase.
Mr.M.Corbett.