ESG welcome Government’s Epidemiological Study plan announced yesterday
The Environmental Safety Group (ESG) have today welcomed the decision by the Gibraltar Government to proceed with an independent epidemiological study.
In a brief statement this morning the ESG said the Government decison has “come about as a reaction to widespread concerns to what seems to be a high incidence of cancer and other diseases in this region”.
A spokesperson for the Gibraltar ecologist group said:
“This is considered to be as a result of exposure over time to high levels of pollution from a number of sources and a massive petrochemical installation and refinery in particular.
We have been advocating for this study for a number of years which has been one of the core campaigns of the group since its formation.”
The ESG statement concluded:
“As we have previously stated, we will assist in this process as best we can, whenever necessary”.
The ESG is a registered Gibraltar charity which works to safeguard the environment of Gibraltar and the Bay of Gibraltar area, including air, land and marine aspects.
The ESG campaign to protect our local ecology from pollution and contamination and to promote public safety in all matters relating to the welfare of our community.
Source: Environmental Safety Group (ESG) - Press Release - 29 May 2008
Epidemiological Study of the Bay Area Welcomed by PDP
The Progressive Democratic Party have also welcomed the Gibraltar Government’s announcement today.
A statement from Gavin Gafan, the PDP’s spokesman on Environment issues, said they “welcome the Government’s commitment to embark on an independent epidemiological study of the impact on health that bay industries are having on our community”.
Mr Gafan added that “the commissioning of such an official study is long overdue”.
Emphasising their own commitment to suppor this study, Mr Gafan said:
“The PDP has previously stated its own commitment to support the carrying out of comprehensive studies of this nature and has urged Government to do so for some time. It is happy to assist Government in such an endeavour.
Concern about the health effects of continuous emissions of toxic material from industries on both sides of the frontier have been a long-standing issue among citizens.
Recent independent studies, such as the report compiled by Denny Larson and the Environmental Safety Group have already highlighted the dangerous emission levels of specific carcinogens such as benzene emanating from the CEPSA refinery.”
Source: Progressive Democratic Party - Press Release - 29 May 2008
Related Articles and Links:
La Plataforma por el Estudio Epidemiológico
View Atlas of Mortality Study - pdf downloadable document 
Report on CEPSA visit submitted to EU by Denny Larson
Gibraltar Government Air Quality Monitoring
Junta de Andalucia - ConsejerÃa de Medio Ambiente > Calidad del Aire
28 May 2008 - Gibraltar Government announces plans for an Epidemiological Study
21 September 2007 - ESG publish ‘Greening Agenda’ recommendations for Gibraltar Election parties
14 May 2007 - ESG submits 13,000 strong petition for Epidemiological Studies
Read more Articles and News reports about Air Pollution issues in Gibraltar
Read more Articles and News reports about Gibraltar ecologists the Environmental Safety Group (ESG)
View ESG Images in our Gibraltar Picture Gallery’s ESG Albums
Read more Articles and News reports about the Progressive Democratic Party of Gibraltar
Comment on this News report in our Forum Topics: Epidemiological Studies Petition - Your Health Is In Your Own Hands