Department orders health risk analysis

THE Department of Defence has ordered an environmental air and soil analysis at the site of the naval base in Haulbowline in Cork harbour to investigate if there’s any threat to sailors from hazardous waste buried in the area.

The football pitch used by naval staff has been declared “out of bounds” by the department because of its proximity to the old steel plant where the toxic waste is buried.

The analysis work began on Wednesday by environmental experts, RPS, and is separate to work being carried out by the Department of the Environment.