With regards to the proposed incinerator in Beddington, if any readers doubt the adverse effect of incinerator emissions on health, I suggest that they consider the changes in infant mortality rates in the Boroughs of Lewisham, Newham, and Tower Hamlets after an incinerator began operating in New Cross, Lewisham in 1993.
The Office for National Statistics have released the infant death rates in all London Boroughs for the period 1970 to 2010 and the infant death rates in the Boroughs of Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Wandsworth were all following a similar downward trend until the incinerator started.
Wandsworth is "upwind" of the incinerator he majority of the time and the infant death rate in that borough continued the downward trend after began while rates in the other three suddenly rose.
"Deprivation" is a popular but false excuse cited for infant deaths in the UK, when a major cause is "deprivation from clean air" as can be seen when the data is examined at electoral ward level.
The Mid Staffs Hospital scandal has shown us how easy it is for "health matters" to be ignored for too long.
The incinerator scandal in London and elsewhere is "more of the same".
Michael Ryan
Via email
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