Air quality around chemical site 'remains high'

The air quality around an area of land which used to produce agrochemicals remains high, according to a recent report.

Earlier this week, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) released results after monitoring the air quality around the site in Hauxton near Cambridge, which has been undergoing a decontamination process.

After checking air samples from the area over a 28-day period, it found that the site posed no risk to human health.

Concern first arose when GPs met with NHS executives last month over suspicions that the work on the site may be causing health problems to local residents.

People in Cambridgeshire began to worry after work on the land, which used to produce pesticides and herbicides, started to release odours, which were previously trapped underground.

Kevin Rutterford from the Environment Agency said: "Everyone involved with the site is working hard to minimise the nuisance odours caused by the clean-up work, but to safeguard our environment into the future, this work must be carried out now."

Posted by Claire Manning