Health study on Haulbowline impact ruled out

THE Government has refused to carry out a baseline health study in Cork harbour, despite the discovery of a toxic waste dump adjacent to a town which has a 44% higher cancer rate than the national average.

Health Minister Mary Harney has ruled out the study even though highly carcinogenic chromium 6 was among potentially lethal elements found in the dump at Haulbowline island two years ago.

In July 2008, Environment Minister John Gormley said he would recommend to Cabinet a full baseline health study in the harbour area after an estimated 500,000 tonnes of waste was found on the island’s East Tip.