Sir, - The Irish Doctors' Environmental Association welcomes Pat Swords's response (July 20th), regarding our concerns on the lack of monitoring of the impact of environmental change on health in Ireland.
In relation to the dioxin issue (and all other issues referred to in our letter), we were referring to the Irish context and apologize if this was unclear. We are aware of studies carried out on cows' milk by the Environmental Protection Agency, and the results were indeed low, as Mr Swords states. However, the validity of dioxin levels in cows' milk, as being representative of levels in humans has been criticised, on the grounds that, as cows continually produce milk, the levels are artificially low.
Our association had the support of the World Health Organization and the Environmental Protection Agency, in its unsuccessful application to the Health Research Board to estimate the levels of dioxins and other endocrine disrupting chemicals in the Irish population some years ago.
At the time of our application, there was no information available on this matter in the Irish context, and our association was one of the first to point this out. We are aware that a study is currently underway, belated but nevertheless welcome.
My information on the lack of risk assessments comes from the European Environment Agency, which hosted a conference in Copenhagen late last year. This conference was attended by environmental and consumer groups from all over the world. At this conference, the Copenhagen Charter was signed. The most important point in this charter was that every chemical in common use must be adequately tested by a certain date or simply withdrawn from the market. The Irish Doctors' Environmental Association was happy to sign this charter.
I hope that this letter clarifies the position for Mr Swords. We look forward to further discussion in the future and mutual collaboration with Mr. Swords and other interested parties in this long overdue debate, on a matter that is of vital importance to us all. - Yours, etc.,
Dr Elizabeth Cullen, Co-chair Irish Doctors' Environmental Association, Kilcullen, Co Kildare.