Background – tyre fires • EU Landfill Directive bans disposal of tyres, whole or shredded to landfill – have to be recycled • 10 large tyre dumps across the UK contain 13m tyres • Total UK annual estimates vary – approximately 500,000t 2011 – Swansea 2010 – Wem (Shropshire) Mexborough (Yorkshire) 2009 – Baglan, Port Talbot • SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH RISK • ILLEGAL STOCKPILING INCREASING PROBLEM Fforestfach tyre fire • Tyre fire at warehouse on industrial estate (16611) • Source material est. 5,000 tonnes of tyre flock • Dark, dense smoke plume • Burned for over 3 weeks • Air quality monitoring established at outset (AQC) • Met conditions varied over time • Plausible that all within a 2km radius were exposed • Novel fire fighting techniques required • Major incident declared
Public Health Wales Fforestfach tyre fire: the public health response Professor David Russell, The WHO Collaborating Centre for Chemical Incidents Public Health Wales Background – tyre fires Health Protection Agency • EU Landfill Directive bans disposal of tyres, whole or shredded to landfill – have to be recycled • 10 large tyre dumps across the UK contain 13m tyres • Total UK annual estimates vary – approximately 500,000t - 2011 – Swansea - 2010 – Wem (Shropshire) & Mexborough (Yorkshire) - 2009 – Baglan, Port Talbot • SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH RISK • ILLEGAL STOCKPILING INCREASING PROBLEM Location • http://www.wales-calling.com/wales-buttons-maps/wales-town-map.gif Public Health Wales Fforestfach,Swansea • http://i.thelocalpeople.co.uk/275773/Article/images/12783551/2956987.png Public Health Wales Public Health Wales Public Health Wales Public Health Wales Fforestfach tyre fire Health Protection Agency • Tyre fire at warehouse on industrial estate (16/6/11) • Source material est. 5,000 tonnes of tyre flock • Dark, dense smoke plume • Burned for over 3 weeks • Air quality monitoring established at outset (AQC) • Met conditions varied over time • Plausible that all within a 2km radius were exposed • Novel fire fighting techniques required • Major incident declared Questions; Hazard Identification • What chemicals could have been released? • What are the hazardous properties? Public Health Wales Questions: Hazard Characterisation • What properties of the chemical(s) have the potential to cause adverse health effects? • Do guidelines from international organisations exist for the chemical(s)? • What assumptions are made about exposure and dose? • Do these assumptions reflect the local population? Public Health Wales Sensitive Receptors Areas and specific buildings under plume that may have residents more sensitive to pollutants including • Schools / nurseries (children) • Care Homes (elderly / infirm) • Hospitals / health centres (ill/pregnant) Other Receptors • General Residential Communities • Commercial Properties Schools Sheltered Complexes Nursing Homes Receptors X [...]... months) and longer term (2 years) Prospective cohort study • To determine impact of the Fforestfach fire on acute and chronic health outcomes within the local population, using routinely collected information held in health and other datasets Public Health Wales Health Protection Agency Public Health Wales Fforestfach tyre fire: the public health response Public Health Wales Huw Brunt, Public Health Wales... measure the mental health impacts associated with the Fforestfach fire • To assess what information and advice about the incident was received by people in affected areas, and what sources of information were • To identify a cohort of individuals that can be followed up in the future to assess psychological morbidity associated with the Fforestfach fire in the medium (12 months) and longer term (2 years)... environment • Gaseous pollutants, smoke and particulates • Plume constituents vary – uncertainties about nature of burning material, fire characteristics, combustion temperature, oxygen availability, ventilation • Generally: PM; SO2; heavy metals; CO; PAHs; organics e.g benzene, phenols, styrene; inorganic irritants e.g Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans Public Health Wales Health Protection . Health Wales Fforestfach tyre fire: the public health response Professor David Russell, The WHO Collaborating Centre for Chemical Incidents Public Health Wales Background – tyre fires Health. Wales Public Health Wales Fforestfach tyre fire Health Protection Agency • Tyre fire at warehouse on industrial estate (16/6/11) • Source material est. 5,000 tonnes of tyre flock • Dark, dense smoke plume •. Wales Fforestfach, Swansea • http://i.thelocalpeople.co.uk/275773/Article/images/12783551/2956987.png Public Health Wales Public Health Wales Public Health Wales Public Health Wales Fforestfach tyre