Margaret Mullane, Dagenham and Rainham Labour MP, has written to all GPs in Rainham, South Hornchurch, Beam Park and Elm Park wards in Havering and the Beam ward in Dagenham in connection with potential health impacts from the ongoing fires on Arnolds Field, Launders Lane.
Many residents report that the air borne pollution from the frequent fires on the former landfill site cause them respiratory conditions and are concerned about long term health impacts from the continued exposure to the noxious smoke. However, when Margaret raised this at her recent meeting with the Queens Hospital Chief Executive, the hospital was unable to identify links. This mirrored the experience of Havering Council in their attempts to pull together data from local GPs.
Margaret said “I am consistently hearing from residents that the pollution from the all too regular fires at Arnolds Field is causing and exacerbating respiratory illnesses. The distress is significant and there are real concerns that repeated exposure could result in long term serious ill health.
Yet despite this it seems that this is not being captured by the NHS. I think this is a serious problem. So I have written to all GPs in the surrounding areas to raise their awareness of the issue of the air pollution from the Arnolds Field fires so that when patients present with respiratory conditions they can be alerted to the issue.
Margaret added “It’s vitally important that the authorities have the full picture of the damage being done by the fires. That evidence will add to the urgency for the source of the fires to be tackled to bring relief to residents. At an individual level it is also really important that GPs record the links to exposure to the pollution as a potential factor in the person’s condition.”
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