asked the Minister for the Environment whether the steps taken seven years ago following the spillage of polychlorinated biphenyl into the River Nore were sufficient to ensure that no danger to fish and animal life has occurred.
44.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - River Pollution.
44.
asked the Minister for the Environment if his Department have carried out an investigation into the circumstances in which the River Nore in County Kilkenny was contaminated in 1980 by a toxic chemical that has been linked with birth defects and cancers in humans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); the reason no prohibition order on the taking of fish from the river was ever issued or warning notices posted; if he will confirm that traces of PCBs were found in fish recently taken from the river; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Priority Question No. 44 and Question No. 41 together.
I am advised that the incident referred to, which occurred on 12 June 1980, was dealt with initially by the company concerned but that the measures taken were not sufficient to prevent the entry of the substance containing PCBs to the river Breagagh. Once informed of the incident, the local authorities required the company to remove accumulations of the substance from the bed of the Breagagh, to replace contaminated drains from the company's premises to the river, to excavate a channel across the river in an effort to collect any remaining quantities of the substance, and to arrange for the safe removal and disposal of the recovered material abroad. In line with their responsibilities for environmental matters, the local authorities have continued to have sediments from the river bed monitored and to pursue investigations to establish that there are no residues of the substance which could still affect the river. I am satisfied that any action necessary as a result of these investigations will be taken promptly by the local authorities in so far as the matter comes within their area of responsibility.
Any public health aspects of the incident or any question of a prohibition on the taking of fish from the affected waters is, however, a matter for the health and fishery authorities. I am informed that these authorities have been actively involved in relation to these aspects and are at present considering what measures, if any, may be appropriate in the light of the monitoring of fish which has been carried out by the Department of the Marine.
What I find most disturbing about this is that the people in County Kilkenny were never made fully aware or even warned about the effects of this extremely toxic chemical. Can the Minister tell us whether there is any acceptable limit of this chemical and whether there will be any adverse effects if people were to eat fish caught in this stretch of the Nore?
The latter part of the question is really a health matter. As I understand it, there are no generally accepted international standards in regard to the danger level of polychlorinated biphenyl. I must be very careful here because I am answering a question in regard to a health matter but I understand there is no danger in so far as eating fish from that particular stretch of the river is concerned, which is a very short stretch of river as the Deputy is aware. I think the Deputy will accept that an enormous amount of work was put into cleaning up the river at that time. Excavations were carried out and much of the waste was exported for incineration. I understand that this chemical is persistent and it has to be continually monitored and such monitoring has been going on in recent times. The minute quantities which remain will be removed. Options are being considered as to how best to deal with both the fish element and the residue which may still be there in the affected areas.
In 1987 there were reports that the level of this toxic chemical was on the increase. Can the Minister tell us whether the Department of the Environment and the Department of the Marine did anything about warning people about the seriousness of this chemical?
The Deputy is quite right to say that this is a very persistent chemical. Once it gets into the fatty substances of fish it accelerates and that is why we are back to this situation again. As this chemical is insolvent in water it can regenerate itself. Consequently, we will have to keep doing it until such time as it has been finally cleared. Quite an amount of effort has been but into trying to get to the level of satisfaction which both the Deputy and I desire to achieve.