Birth defects linked to incinerator dioxins

BABIES and children are 25 times more exposed to the dangers of dioxins emitted by toxic waste incinerators than adults, a paediatrician warned yesterday.

Dr Gavin ten Tusscher said studies showed babies in the womb and children exposed to incinerator dioxins suffered a plethora of illnesses ranging from birth defects, cancer and leukaemia to poor lung functions, liver damage and retardation of sexual and brain development.

“There is no safe minimum exposure to dioxins at the moment - dioxins do not belong in the body and any exposure is too much,” Dr ten Tusscher said.