The most comprehensive report in to the health effects of the 1988 Lowermoor water contamination incident was published in draft form today and concludes that it is unlikely that the chemicals involved in the incident would have caused any delayed or persistent health effects.

The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) set up the Lowermoor Subgroup (LSG) in 2001 to advise on whether the chemicals resulting from the incident have resulted in delayed or persistent health effects and whether any additional research is necessary. In the draft report, the Subgroup notes that many individuals locally are concerned and distressed about the possible health consequences of the incident. No conclusive link was found between the incident and the chronic symptoms and diseases reported to the Subgroup. However, the available information led the Subgroup to recommend further work on the following long term health effects:

-- Effect of contaminants on neurological health. This is due to problems with design of previous studies.

-- Effects on the development of those under 1 year old at the time of the incident.

-- The incidence of diseased joints in the affected area.

The Subgroup was chaired by Prof Frank Woods and included experts in toxicology, epidemiology, and child health as well as representatives of the local community. In addition to reviewing scientific research, the Subgroup heard evidence throughout its period of work from people who considered their health to be affected by the incident, as well as local GPs and other relevant professionals.

An open meeting for the public will be held in Camelford on 17 February to allow time for the findings to be considered. The consultation period on the report will run for 12 weeks and contributions can be made via the Department of Health website or by letter.

Notes for editors

1. The Lowermoor water pollution incident occurred in 1988 when a contractor\'s relief driver put 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate in the wrong tank at the unmanned water treatment works owned by South West Water Authority at Lowermoor, near Camelford, North Cornwall.

2. The Lowermoor Incident Health Advisory group (LIHAG), which reported in 1989 and 1991, concluded that there was no convincing evidence that harmful accumulation of aluminium had occurred, nor that there was a greater prevalence of ill health due to the toxic effects of the contaminated water, but recognised that the incident and subsequent events had led to real suffering in the community. LIHAG also recommended peer review and scientific scrutiny of any Lowermoor studies with implications for public health policy, with assessment by Government expert advisory committees as appropriate.

3. The announcement that a full inquiry in to the incident would be made was made on 14 August 2001 by Environment Minister Michael Meacher and Health Minister Yvette Cooper. Membership of the LSG was announced on 18th January 2002.

4. The LSG is funded by the Department of Health and the Department for Food and Rural Affairs. Its Terms of Reference were:

- To advise on whether the exposure to chemicals resulting from the 1988 Lowermoor water pollution incident has caused, or is expected to cause, delayed or persistent harm to human health; and

- To advise whether the existing programme of monitoring and research into the human health effects of the incident should be augmented and, if so, to make recommendations.

5. The members of the subgroup include:

Professor H Frank Woods CBE (Chairman), University of Sheffield
Professor J Kevin Chipman, University of Birmingham
Mr Douglas Cross, Local Representative
Dr Lesley Rushton OBE, MRC Institute for Environment and Health,
Leicester
Ms Jacquie Salfield, formerly COT Public Interest Representative
Mr Peter Smith, Local Representative
Professor Stephan Strobel, Peninsula Postgraduate Health Institute
Dr Anita Thomas, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust

More details can be found on the DH website at:
advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/cotnonfood/lowermoor.htm

6. The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment is a non-statutory independent expert advisory committee which advises the Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health and the Chairman of the Food Standards Agency, and through them, the government, on a wide range of matters concerning chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment. Details of the committee can be found on the internet at: food.gov.uk/science/ouradvisors/toxicity

7. Contributions to the consultation can be made by accessing
advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/cotnonfood/lowermoor.htm
or writing to the following address:
Khandu Mistry
Lowermoor Report Consultation
Room 692D
Skipton House
80 London Road
London SE1 6LH

For media enquiries on this press release, please contact the Department of Health Media Centre on 020 7210 5436

GNNREF: 109684
Issued by : UK Dept of Health Press Office