Under the Freedom of Information Act could you please try and answer some questions .
1.Is Glyncoch an area where Silica dust exposure is a real concern .
2.Is Glyncoch a hot spot for associated Silica exposure issues
3.Have you any means of identifying a hotspot of illnesses and would Silica dust exposure be highlighted
4.Why have the children of Glyncoch been provided with the TB vaccination and it appears other areas have not .
5.Is there any reason why babies are vaccinated in the Glyncoch area and is this the same for other areas
6.Has the TB vaccination been given in Glyncoch because of Silica dust exposure .
7.Why has Glyncoch a high TB vaccination programme over a long period .
8.Has there been any exchange of information between governing authorities relating to Glyncoch residents health issues .If so ,what information
9.Is Glyncoch a safe area to reside considering Silica dust exposure due to the quarrrys activities and ongoing expansion
10.Are there expected to be more illnesses on Glyncoch as a result of the quarrys expansion .
11. Is the life expectancy of Glyncoch residents going to decrease due to the quarrys activities .
12. Are there more childhood illnesses and health problems in Glyncoch compared to other similar sized communities
13. Are there more deaths in Glyncoch in relation to respiratory problems compared to other similar communities
14 . Have you highlighted the health issues of the residents of Glyncoch to another public body or a Doctors Surgery .
15 .Have you ever been informed of the health issues of the residents of Glyncoch by another public body or Doctors Practice .
16. Are there any cases of Silica exposure being investigated from the Glyncoch area .
17.Has there been any reports prepared for Silica exposure in Civil or Coroners Courts for residents in the Glyncoch area .
18.Are there more ear infections,nose bleeds and sinus problems for the residents of Glyncoch compared to other similar areas .
19. Are the residents of Glyncoch more sucessable to autoimmune disorders due to the exposure to Silica dust .
20.Has there been a rise in the cases of Asthma , COPD,Fibrosis and Cancer over the past decade for residents of Glyncoch .
21. Could you provide us with any copies of paperwork you have regarding Silica exposure to residents in the Glyncoch area .
22. What is the current health ranking of Glyncoch in any statistics you hold .
Thank you for your recent request.
In relation to Questions 4,5 & 7:
In the UK BCG vaccination against tuberculosis is offered to children who:
Live in an area with a high rate of TB
Are born or have a parent or grandparent born in a country with high levels of TB.
The offer of BCG to children in Glyncoch was part of the response to a large community outbreak of TB in that area.
In relation to Q6:
No, BCG vaccine is given in response to an outbreak of tuberculosis.
A more general response to your remaining questions is provided below.
We are not aware of any data relating to silica dust monitoring in a public context.
We are not aware of, and do not hold, any evidence suggesting greater ill health among the people of Glyncoch as a result of quarrying
We are not aware of any health campaigns, including BCG vaccination, being targeted at Glyncoch as a result of concerns relating to quarrying.
Generally, any concerns about silica are related to occupational, rather than public, exposures.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) may hold more information on this. I have provided their contact details below for you:
Health and Safety Executive
Health and Safety - Make a request (hse.gov.uk)
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of the decision, you should write to the Corporate Complaints Manager, Public Health Wales NHS Trust, 3, Number 2, Capital Quarter, Tyndall Street, Cardiff, CF10 4BZ.
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Trust. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner for Wales
2nd Floor
Churchill House
Churchill Way
Cardiff
CF10 2HH
Telephone: 029 2067 8400
Email: wales@ico.org.uk