Buncefield air quality findings published

It is unlikely that pollutants emitted after the Buncefield Oil Depot explosion of December 2005 had widespread impacts on air quality at ground level, a report published today has confirmed.

The 'Interim Review of Air Quality Aspects of the Buncefield Oil Depot Explosion' - authored for Defra by consultants Netcen, the Met Office and the Health Protection Agency - summarises the wide range of air pollution monitoring during and after the fires at the Hertfordshire depot, and assesses the impacts of the incident on air quality.

This monitoring shows that:

The wide range of pollutants measured and reported includes particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, dioxins, furans, hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Measurements taken from within the plume by a research aircraft operated by the Met Office and Natural Environment Research Council showed that the plume was mainly black carbon-soot. C oncentrations of chemical contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic compounds and hydrocarbons which would be expected from a fire of this nature, were low.

For a full copy of the report visit:

Notes to editors

1. On Sunday 11th December 2005, there was a major explosion at the Buncefield oil depot near Hemel Hempstead. Following the explosion, large stocks of refined product including petrol, gas-oil and oil at the depot remained on fire until Wednesday 14th December, when the last major fires were finally extinguished. A number of smaller fires continued until Thursday 15 th December.

2. The large plume of particles and other pollutants produced by the fires could be seen from many kilometres away, and was clearly identified in satellite images.

3. The report has been externally reviewed by two independent air quality experts, both members of the Air Quality Expert Group. There were no major comments received.

4. This report will inform the considerations as to whether the Buncefield incident will be designated a major accident to the environment (MATTE) under COMAH as a result of the impact of the smoke plume. In addition this report will be referred to the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants for advice of health aspects of these data at their June 2006 meeting.

5. Monitoring undertaken in and around the plant was organised by Defra, Netcen, the Health Protection Agency, the Hertfordshire Fire Brigade and the Met Office.

6. Uncertainties have been considered in the emissions estimates and modelling and are explained within the text. The information is considered to be the best estimate of what occurred at the time of the fire.

7. Information and forecasts from the national air monitoring network are available at www.airquality.co.uk.

8. Reports from the Buncefield Investigation Board and the Health Protection Agency will also be published on 9 May. For more information visit www.buncefieldinvestigation.gov.uk and www.hpa.org.uk.

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