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1999 Response to Friends of The Earth CommentsWe recognise that our local community trusts us to make chemicals in a way which safeguards the health of residents and employees and which does not harm the environment. This is a responsibility we take very seriously indeed and there is no evidence of any ill health caused by our operations.We monitor our impact on the local environment very carefully. In the case of carcinogens we use sophisticated analytical equipment to measure levels in the air around Runcorn Site. In 1997, levels were so low that they were virtually undetectable and well within the Environment Agency and Health & Safety Executive regulations. For example, they were less than a thousandth of the Health & Safety Executive's occupational exposure level and over the past ten years authorised emissions of potential carcinogens have reduced by almost half. Friends of the Earth and local residents are regularly updated on Runcorn Site's environmental performance at Community Forum meetings. Our publicly distributed 1997 Site environmental report clearly shows levels of carcinogens emitted during the year. And, last August, 3,000 local residents were invited to attend an talk on environmental performance and raise any concerns. Only fifteen people attended and no concerns were raised about carcinogens. As part of our continuous improvements, we shall be further reducing the amount of carcinogens released over the next few years as we bring new plant on-stream. Friends of the Earth have actively campaigned against the plant which will reduce the amount of carcinogens released to the environment. "In line with our social responsibilities, ICI is one of a number of regional companies supporting an independent health study being carried out by North Cheshire Health Authority.
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