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Toxic Waste Site Spurs Health Checks for Residents
5 Nov
Summary
- Health checks offered near 18,000 tonnes of illegal waste in Bickershaw.
- Testing found banned pesticide Demeton-O and harmful chemicals at the site.
- Waste clearance is scheduled to begin this month and continue into 2027.
Health and wellbeing support is being provided to residents in Bickershaw who live near a significant illegal waste site. An event on Thursday at Bolton House Road offers NHS health checks, including blood pressure and asthma assessments, alongside mental health services. This initiative comes after investigative testing of the 18,000-tonne waste dump uncovered dangerous chemicals.
The testing revealed the presence of Demeton-O, a pesticide banned in the UK for decades due to its toxicity. Other harmful substances found include P-tert amylphenol, an endocrine disruptor, and Triisopropyl phosphate, which is very toxic to aquatic life. These findings highlight potential risks to human and environmental health.
Public health experts have called for more extensive monitoring and research into the long-term effects of low-level chemical exposures. The Environment Agency has made five arrests in connection with the Wigan dump for environmental, fraud, and money laundering offenses. Clearance of the waste is scheduled to begin in November 2026 and continue into 2027.
