Warning over cancer risk to children near disused mine

Children living near a disused mining area are at risk from cancer-causing substances, a new report revealed today.

Dust containing lead and arsenic particles is still blowing from the 147-acre tailings pond in Silvermines, Co Tipperary, despite the ending of major mining operations there more than two decades ago.

According to a preliminary report by retired Professor Rory P Finegan, the area is suffering from a ‘toxic metal pollution problem’.

“In particular, the health of children is at risk,” he said.

He added that the original interagency investigation into Silvermines in 1999 had misleadingly stated that adults had higher levels of lead in their blood samples than children.

“It appears that the juvenile segment of the population has suffered a relatively greater exposure to lead, in a shorter period of time, than has the preceding generation. They are therefore at greater risk of harmful health consequences than has earlier been the case.”

The enormous tailings pond was created by the mining company Mogul Ireland, which piped liquid mining waste there until 1982.

It has an obligation under its licence to rectify the lands affected.

The company abandoned plans last year to spread organic waste on the site after objections from locals and is currently in discussion with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources about a new plan.

Professor Finegan, who worked in medical research at the University of British Columbia in Canada, as well as other universities, was commissioned to carry out the report by the Gortmore Tailings Management Facility Action Group.

Its chairman Michael Leamy said the report was a ‘damning verdict’ on the interagency group’s research and the health problems facing the area.

Independent MEP Cathy Sinnott said state agencies needed to be held accountable for not making the tailings pond safe.

“What further damage to the health of the people has accrued in the time interval since the first report to this one?”

She said new blood samples should be taken to test families for lead and other toxic substances.

She added that she would be presenting a report on the Silvermines health problems to the EU’s Environmental Committee.