Summary
of research and development needs identified in this report
(a) Risk assessment
Ireland presently has insufficient resources to carry out adequate
risk assessments for proposed waste management facilities. Although
the necessary skills are available, neither the personnel nor the
dedicated resources have been made available. In addition, there are
serious data gaps (addressed under point (c) below). These problems
should be rectified urgently.
(b) Detection and monitoring of
human health impacts
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 assessments 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. The
recommendations in the Proposal for a National Environmental Health
Action Plan (Government of Ireland 1999) could form a basis for this.
(c) Detection and monitoring of
environmental impacts
The capacity (in terms of facilities, financial and human resources,
data banks, etc.) must be
developed for measuring environmental damage, and changes over time
in the condition of the environment around proposed waste sites and
elsewhere. There is a serious deficiency of baseline environmental
information in Ireland, a situation that should be remedied. The lack
of baseline data makes it very hard to interpret the results of local
studies, for example around a waste management site. Existing research
results should be collated and interpreted as a step toward building
a baseline data bank. A strategically designed monitoring programme
needs to be initiated that can correct deficiencies in current ambient
environmental monitoring. In addition, capacity needs to be built
in environmental analysis. In particular, Irish facilities for measuring
dioxins are required, and should be developed as a priority. However,
the high public profile of dioxins should not distract attention from
the need for improved monitoring of other potential pollutants.
(d) Risk communication and perception
Qualitative studies about waste management perceptions revealed a
diversity of opinion about waste management issues generally, and
about the links between waste management and both human health and
environmental quality. To facilitate public debate on the issues of
waste management policy and effects, a systematic programme of risk
communication will be necessary. This should concentrate on providing
unbiased and trusted information to all
participants (or stakeholders) in waste management issues. Public
trust, whether it is placed in the regulators, in compliance with
the regulations or in the information provided, will be
fundamental in achieving even a modicum of consensus for any future
developments in waste
policy in Ireland.
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