Health Protection Agency releases report on chemical hazards

21 May 2008

The Health Protection Agency has published today its Chemical Hazards and Poisons Report to coincide with day two of its Chemical Conference in Manchester.

Among the topics covered in the report is an investigation into the potential health risks of exposure to toxins found in the hairs of a new species of caterpillar which is colonising parts of England. Some people have reported symptoms after being in contact with the caterpillars.

The report also reviews two recent cases of carbon monoxide poisoning in London and highlights the health risks to emergency services as well as the importance of inter-agency coordination and media communication.

One article reveals changing attitudes to herbal medicines in light of a recent publication which highlights their potential health risks. These medicines are not subject to the same controls as pharmaceutical medicines and some herbal medicines do produce deleterious symptoms.

Among the topics being discussed on day two of the Chemical Conference are: the identification and reuse of derelict land, risk assessment of human exposure to chemicals and community involvement in radon surveys.

The conference will end with presentations on planning for flooding and countering chemical threats of international terrorism.

Press enquiries; please contact the press office at Chilton, email chilton.pressoffice@hpa.org.uk or telephone 01235-822876, 01235-822745 or 01235-822603.

Notes to editors

A paper copy of the Chemical Hazards and Poisons Report - May 2008 (issue 12), is available from the Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division (CHaPD) of the HPA, and can be requested through the Press Office on 01235-822876, 01235-822745 or 01235-822603.
The Oak Processionary (Thaumetopoea processionea) Moth caterpillar, originally from southern Europe, has tiny sharp barbed hairs and a toxin which can cause irritation and allergic reactions in people and animals. It poses its greatest health risk when it goes into its last stages of development in late May and early June before becoming a moth.
The Health Protection Agency is working with the Forestry Commission, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and local authorities to maximise the chances of identifying and destroying existing colonies of this pest in the UK.
Oak Processionary Moth was discovered breeding in England for the first time in 2006. It has been found on oak trees in West and South West London, including in Kew Gardens.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas produced when fossil fuels burn without enough air. Exposure to high levels can be lethal, causing on average 50 accidental deaths every year in the UK. At lower levels it may produce symptoms which resemble flu or food poisoning; such as headaches, tiredness, difficulty in thinking clearly and feeling sick. The number of carbon monoxide poisonings increases with the use of gas fires, wood burners and paraffin heaters.
CO has no smell or taste and is undetectable. However, there are sometimes other indicators that may suggest a fault with domestic boilers or flues. The signs of trouble are black sooty marks on the radiants (bars above the gas flames) of gas fires, sooty marks on the wall around stoves, boilers or fires, smoke accumulating in rooms due to faulty flues and yellow instead of blue flames from gas appliances.
If you see any of these signs, turn off the appliance, open your windows and have a registered engineer service the appliance as soon as possible. If you have any fossil fuelled appliances in your home, you should consider purchasing an audible carbon monoxide alarm which will alert you to high and potentially lethal levels of carbon monoxide in your home. The alarm will not go off if you are being exposed to lower levels of CO and it should not be used as a substitute for regular servicing of appliances. If you think you are suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, see your doctor immediately.
Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division (CHaPD) is part of the HPA’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, based in Chilton, Oxfordshire.

Last reviewed: 24 December 2008