Living near a landfill site may result in a woman giving birth to a child with birth defects, according to a report published yesterday.
The Health Research Board report stressed, however, that birth defects were only associated with some landfill sites and more research was required to see why this was the case.
After reviewing studies worldwide, the report concluded: "There is modest evidence for an association between birth defects and residence near some landfill sites." Attempts to clarify the link were hampered because little was known about the causes of birth defects in general, it said.
But the report, Health and Environmental Effects of Landfilling and Incineration of Waste - A Literature Review, said there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate a clear link between cancer and exposure to a landfill.
It also found the evidence for a link between cancer and proximity to an incinerator was not conclusive. "A number of well-designed studies have reported associations between developing certain cancers and living close to incinerator sites.
"Specific cancers identified include primary liver cancer, laryngeal cancer, soft-tissue sarcoma and lung cancer. It is hard to separate the influences of other sources of pollutants, and other causes of cancer, and as a result, the evidence for a link between cancer and proximity to an incinerator is not conclusive."
But there was some evidence that incinerator emissions may be associated with respiratory problems, the report said.
The report was commissioned by the Department of the Environment and conducted by an interdisciplinary scientific team from University College Dublin, University College Cork and the Dublin Institute of Technology on behalf of the HRB.
Researcher Dr Dominique Crowley of UCD said it was not part of the team's remit to suggest one form of waste disposal over another. "That is another can of worms entirely," she said.
There was a paucity of literature relating to modern landfill and incineration sites. As a result the report's conclusions were based on the effects of older sites.
On environmental effects, the report states all methods of waste management have an environmental impact.
"Landfills can produce gas and contaminated water, as well as wind-blown litter and dust, and attract vermin. Transport of waste to landfill sites can also have a significant impact on the environment in terms of noise, vehicular emissions, accidental spillages etc," it said.
On incineration, it said this method of waste disposal produces a range of volatile and gaseous emissions which, if released to the atmosphere can compromise environmental quality.
"The actual range of emissions depends upon the specific characteristics of the waste stream and engineering considerations such as combustion temperature and ancillary emission abatement techniques."
Dr Crowley said the public had a right to be concerned about living next to landfill and incineration sites. "Both have risks," she said.
The report criticises Irish health information systems and the fact that insufficient resources are provided to carry out adequate risk assessments for proposed waste management facilities in the State. "These problems should be rectified urgently," it adds.
"Irish health information systems cannot support routine monitoring of the health of people living near waste sites. There is an urgent need to develop the skills and resources required to undertake health and environmental risk assessment in Ireland.
"This should be considered as an important development to build capacity in Ireland to protect public health in relation to potential environmental hazards."