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<p>The Environment Agency (EA) has not made any assessment of reports on this subject
and does not plan to conduct any such assessments in England.</p><p> </p><p>The impact
on food produced in proximity to waste incinerators is considered as part of environmental
permitting regulations. The EA is responsible for deciding whether new incinerators
in England should get a permit to operate. For each permit application it receives,
the EA uses the results of air quality modelling and a human health risk assessment
(HHRA) to determine the impact of the proposed incinerator.</p><p> </p><p>The HHRA
assesses impacts on the food chain. Impact assessments are very conservative and permit
decisions are based on worst-case scenario impacts.</p><p> </p><p>The EA also consults
the UK Health Security Agency and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on every permit
application it receives and will not issue a permit if the proposed plant could cause
significant pollution or harm to human health, including via the food chain.</p><p>
</p><p>The FSA is responsible for the management of public health risks in relation
to food. In general, the FSA considers that if incinerator facilities are correctly
operated and monitored, with the appropriate level of emissions abatement, there should
be no impact on the local area in terms of elevated levels of contaminants in soil
and locally produced food. Measures are in place to manage the risk from chemical
contaminants and keep levels as low as reasonably achievable through good practices
and regulatory controls.</p>
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