Incinerators hazard for families, says father
After several years of campaigning, Fred De Baere, who lives in Flanders, managed to have a local waste incinerator closed by the courts.
Mr De Baere's own research and that of university doctors showed genetic defects and cancer rates were five times the national average within a 3km radius of the incinerator at Saint Nicklaas, a town in Flanders with a population of 55,000.
Mr De Baere says two of his children by his first marriage suffered directly as a result of the plant. One boy, now aged 17, suffered from communication problems because part of his brain wasn't functioning, while his daughter, who is 21, may never be able to conceive as she is suffering from severe fertility problems. Doctors were baffled by both problems.
The catalogue of family misfortune doesn't end there.
His first wife suffered unexpected miscarriages and then one of a pair of twins mysteriously died while the mother was eight months pregnant.
"The doctors investigated and said they could find nothing biologically wrong. It always seemed to be that there was no cause," Mr De Baere said.
After meeting his second wife Kristine seven years ago, the couple decided to start a new family.
Their son, David, who is nearly six years of age, was born a dwarf and today measures 92 cm the average size of a two year old. The local university investigated and subsequently discovered it was caused by genetic mutation.
However, there was no previous history in either family.
The couple blame dioxins for David's condition.
Last December, following expert medical opinion, a court in Flanders ordered that the waste incinerator, which was burning only household rubbish, be closed.
"We won that battle but now we are facing a bigger one. Indaver have just been awarded a licence to build an incinerator 15kms from us which will have the capacity to deal with 460,000 tonnes of waste each year.
"We are preparing to appeal this to the Supreme Administration Court," Mr De Baere said.
Kristine warned their trauma was not unique.
"There are a lot of stories around Flanders like ours. There are a lot of cases of genetic disorders," she said.
Mr De Baere was speaking last night against incinerators at a special meeting held in Carrigaline, Co Cork, by CHASE (Cork Harbour Area for a Safe
Environment). The organisation is campaigning against plans by Indaver to build both domestic and hazardous waste incinerators in the Ringaskiddy area.
Indaver has repeatedly said it will use new technology to ensure that there are no harmful effects resulting from its incinerators.
Spokeswoman for CHASE, Lina Fitzpatrick said: "Promoters of incineration repeatedly assure us of the safety of incineration, and cite examples of countries where it is not a problem.
"Fred De Baere and his family are proof of the other side of the story."
Ms Fitzpatrick said research carried out in Flanders by doctors and the De Baeres showed alarming rates of illnesses, including cancers, reproductive problems, congenital birth defects and acute respiratory illness which was linked to the incinerators.
There was also evidence of premature death (19 years premature for women and seven years premature for men) in the area surrounding the incinerator, which was situated in a residential area.
