Sir, – Tony Lowes from Friends of the Irish Environment (August 8th) refers to “the cancer-causing by-product of the chlorination of peaty water, trihalomethanes (THM)”. He says the Environmental Protection Agency “has not responded to repeated requests for research into the worrying trend”.
The EPA recognises the need for research into this important topic and related issues, and last week announced research funding in the area of environment and health which invites research proposals on “key environmental stressors with potential to harm human health”.
This research funding was advertised in your paper on August 5th following consultation on national research priorities.
The EPA is committed to supporting the highest quality research to protect both our environment and our health. There is now an opportunity for experts and scientists to identify priority issues and the research needed to address these for Ireland.
The competition is open and funding is limited. The EPA looks forward to receiving research proposals across a range of issues in this area by the closing date (September 13th). – Yours, etc,