Buncefield Fire: No risk to health yet detected

The Dacorum & Watford and Three Rivers Primary Care Trusts and the Health Protection Agency have issued the following updated health advice in response to the incident at the Buncefield oil depot in Hemel Hempstead.

The plume has now dispersed and is unlikely to cause any effects elsewhere.

All sampling of the air quality in the local area and beyond, apart from very close to the Buncefield site, has not revealed any results that are different from normal levels. Air quality sampling will continue at a number of fixed sites and these will be regularly reviewed. Environmental testing for a range of other potential toxins has not so far identified any raised levels. Further tests on environmental samples from the local area are being carried out.

Dr Gary Coleman, Head of the Chemical and Poisons Division of the Health Protection Agency said: "Our assessment at this stage is that there has been no significant impact on health provided members of the public followed the advice from the health authorities, especially sensitive groups like asthmatics. This is based on preliminary environmental and health monitoring and we are carrying out a lot more to check there are no long-term effects."

On-going surveillance of air quality and environmental sampling from all the agencies involved in the incident is being co-ordinated by the Health Protection Agency.

Following a review of health issues connected with the incident it has been decided to declare the acute phase of the incident over from a health perspective. We recognise that members of the public may have on going concerns, but we hope that the public is reassured by the advice that there has been no significant impact to health from this incident.

Notes to Editors

More information is available on the Health Protection Agency website www.hpa.org.uk

Health advice continues to be available from NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. Anyone feeling unwell should contact their GP or primary care out of hours service.

Media enquiries to:

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