How Safe is the air at refuse incinerators?
By PAULINE LEONG
A RECYCLING company has started an online survey among residents in housing estates located near refuse incinerators to find out if emissions from such plants affect their health.
The founder of Recycling Point Dot Corn, Mr Joseph Tan, 35, said some families who live near incineration plants in Clementi and Woodlands have told him they often have respiratory problems, such as coughs and difficulty breathing.
He said they were not sure if their problems were prevalent or merely isolated cases, and had asked him if he could help them to find out.
So he started an online survey at www.recyclingpoint.com.sg about three weeks ago. He has also distributed 10,000 flyers in Woodlands and 2,000 in Teban Gardens.
But the Environment Ministry said that there have not been any complaints about the incinerators in Senoko and Tuas.
It added that a few residents in Clementi had complained about noise and odour over the past five years, but added that neither the smell nor the noise was from the incinerator.
The four incineration plants — at Ulu Pandan, Tuas, Senoko and Tuas South — are between 1 km and 9 km away from the nearest residential areas, among them, Clementi, Bukit Batok, Woodlands and Jurong West.
Despite this, Mr Tan said he will continue to collect information. He is also planning to engage an environmental consultant, Accel Environmental Engineers, to test the air quality in some areas.
The cost of the tests could go up to $10,000, but Mr Tan said he will channel some of the profits from his recycling business to pay for the bill because he believes in caring for the environment.
Some of those who responded to the survey were pleased the issue is being discussed, but some others were more worried that the findings may affect the price of their property.
Said Mr Tan: "I was surprised by the reaction. I told them they should value their life more than money."
Source : The Sunday Times, July 1 2001
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