Health effects from landfills : impact of the latest research : report on a WHO meeting, Bilthoven, Netherlands 22 October 1998

Abstract

The meeting was convened to present the available scientific evidence on the health effects of waste disposal in landfills and to determine the implications for public health policy and for landfill operators. Representatives of national and local governments, of the waste-processing industry and of scientists involved in evaluating the effects in Europe and the United States participated in the discussion. The meeting concluded that present data do add to a suspicion that population exposure to emissions from hazardous wastes may pose a risk to population health. However, these data are insufficient for clear risk assessment. WHO has offered its assistance in catalysing new research and improving monitoring to assist governments and the waste-processing industry in further reducing risks to health and in improving risk communication