CANCER LINK WITH £30 CEMENT PLANT?

By Tom Gillespie

OBJECTORS to the proposed £30 million cement manufacturing plant near Kilkelly have uncovered evidence of a growth in childhood cancer near such plants.

The results of a study at Birmingham University revealed an increase of 32% over what would normally be expected.

The Tooreen Cement Action Group are opposed to the development by Frank Harrington Ltd., the company which constructed the Longford bypass and Knock International Airport.

The latest findings add to the growing list of complaints by the Action Group against the plant which would employ over 100 people and have an output of 350,000 tonnes per annum.

The chairman of the Tooreen Cement Action Group, Mr. Peter Cassidy said they were shocked with the cancer risk findings which were published in the Guardian newspaper.

Mr. Cassidy said: "The research studied all 22,458 children aged up to 15 dying from leukemia or cancer between 1953 and 1980 in England, Scotland and Wales.

"This confirms our worst fears about the proposed siting of the cement plant in a densely populated rural area." They also understood that much of Ireland's toxic waste was sent to Britain for incineration.

"Some of this waste is burned in cement factory kilns. This is also the norm in Germany. We believe the plant earmarked for this area will have such a facility."

Mr. Cassidy said they were also concerned the that factory would emit eight poisonous gasses as well as large amounts of airborne dust. They are also concerned that the plant will pollute nearby lakes and rivers and would create an extra twenty-five per cent traffic volume on the surrounding roads.

There is also the fear that some locals may depart the area if the factory goes ahead, adding further to rural decay in the region.

Mr. Cassidy added: "This cancer link with cement factories is a very worrying development and one which we will be seeking further clarification on as soon as possible."