Irish Ispat Ltd, owner of Irish Steel, has said that environmental problems due to high levels of lead found in part of its plant at Haulbowline, Co Cork, are being rectified.
Lead pollution levels at Irish Steel were found to be significantly above recommended maximum limits last year and highlighted in a report compiled for the company by the development agency Forbairt. But an Irish Steel spokesman said yesterday that the atmospheric ground-level concentrations of lead related to one monitoring point only.
This was in the middle of the scrap-handling facility, where a large amount of dust is generated by passing heavy goods vehicles and other machinery. The recommended level is an average of two micrograms per cubic metre, but some levels in 1997 were found to more than four times that figure. Frequent exposure to lead or lead compounds can cause poisonous accumulations in the body.
After discussions with the regulatory authority, Cork County Council, it was agreed to position two additional monitoring stations outside the plant, one in Cobh and the other at Haulbowline Naval Base. This followed the findings of the air dispersion modelling study, details of which were reported in the Sunday Business Post.
"Analysis so far in 1998 from these additional stations indicates that the lead levels and nuisance dust levels are within allowable limits," the spokesman said.
The Environmental Protection Agency said monitoring of lead levels at the plant was a matter for the Cork local authority, as the company had yet to come within the ambit of integrated pollution control licensing overseen by the EPA.
Irish Ispat said it had been advised by the Department of the Environment that it will now possibly be mid-1999 before the facility is scheduled for licence.
