Buncefield Oil Depot Fire - Health Update

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.

Sampling of air quality in the local area is continuing and results available to date reveal that particulate levels are not significantly raised. Local health services have not seen increased levels of activity related to this incident. Environmental testing for a range of other potential toxins has not identified any raised levels. The current air quality is no worse than that found by any busy main road and should not be associated with increased illness.

If you see soot particles or deposits from the plume on cars, windows sills then simply wash them away with hot soapy water. Foam on the ground can be washed away or left to disintegrate naturally, but avoid touching it.

There is no longer a visible plume from the site and any residual odours are not expected to cause health problems.

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.

Health advice is 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.

Notes to Editors

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

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.