Public Health Concerns
Unknown health risks
Rock-crushing quarries produce a dust called respirable crystalline silica that causes daily symptoms of coughing, along with irritation of the eyes and airways and are known to interfere with lung metabolism. Years of exposure can cause serious disease, in some cases incurable. On-site workers are most at risk of exposure because of their close proximity to equipment, but there is the possibility that this fine-grained silica, which is invisible to the naked eye, can travel to surrounding areas.
In Jersey at present there is no independent environmental monitoring happening to determine whether or not this fine dust is travelling across our parishes. Other countries have specified minimum safe distances for inhabitants (aka ‘buffer zones’) from quarrying activity to ensure public safety. Examples include:
- Victoria, Australia – 500m (proposed new distance for Christchurch, New Zealand)
- Quebec, Canada – 600m
- Nova Scotia, Canada – 800m
- New Brunswick, USA – 600m
- India – 500m
- Malaysia – 500m
Video from New Zealand explaining the dangers of quarry dust. Source: Fair Go: Dust particles from quarry causing adverse health effects for residents nearby (1news.co.nz)
Amendment 83
Environmental Health confirms that air pollution is not measured at either quarry neither by the States. They also state “There is no legislation in Jersey covering air pollution”. This begs the question why we do not have buffer zones in Jersey.
Local residents would like to have the air quality near La Gigoulande Quarry investigated independently (not by the quarry) before any further expansion is considered.
Deputy Kirsten Morel has lodged an amendment to the Bridging Island Plan calling for a buffer zone of 250m, and appropriate environmental monitoring to be established, before any planning application for expansion may be granted.