Health Effects from the Buncefield Fire
9 May 2006
There is currently no evidence of a lasting public health risk from the exposure to the plume. That is the preliminary conclusion of a health surveillance study carried out by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), the Dacorum and Watford and Three Rivers Primary Care Trusts.
The fire did result in 244 people attending Accident & Emergency Departments, mainly on 11 December 2005, the first day of the fire. About 75% of these were emergency workers, and two thirds of these came for a precautionary check up and had no symptoms. The most common symptoms attributable to the explosion and fire were lacerations or strains, with a lesser number of respiratory complaints such as shortness of breath, coughing and asthma. Of the total attending, 90% were sent home or back to work without the need for any follow up. The total number of members of the public with symptoms was 38.
Given the unprecedented scale of the explosion and fire, there was understandable public concern about possible health effects. In order to assess this concern, a survey was carried out involving over 5,000 local people answering a questionnaire. Those under the plume, primarily south of Buncefield, tended to have most concerns but these decreased with time after the accident. The main concerns at the time were the danger of breathing toxic fumes and there are remaining concerns about possible long-term health effects.
Dr Pat Troop, Chief Executive of the HPA said, "This is an important study to see what actually happened and to assess the public health effects of this incident. It was very fortunate that no one was seriously injured or killed by such an enormous explosion and fire. Furthermore our preliminary findings indicate there were no other serious public health effects from the accident."
For a further details on the study see:
www.hpa.org.uk/explosions/hemel.htm
Press enquiries please contact :
Rose Child, Head of Communications - Dacorum & Watford and Three Rivers Primary Care Trusts on 01923 281639/01442 840950
or
Iain Mallett, Regional Communications Manager - Health Protection Agency on 01223 372840
Last reviewed: 17 December 2007