LOCAL residents can apparently rest assured that the smoke pall hanging over Alton and the surrounding area, as a result of last week's barn fire at Shalden, should not have affected their health.

Fears that the fumes may prove toxic arose as it emerged the roof of the open-fronted Dutch barn was constructed of cement and asbestos and that the slow-burning mountain of mulched power station fuel inside the barn contained potentially harmful plastics.

Concerns were exacerbated as the prevailing winds blew the smoke over the surrounding countryside, coming to rest in the valleys over Alton and Selborne.

Local health centres were alerted and East Hampshire District Council's environmental health department advised anyone suffering with potentially related respiratory problems to seek medical advice. They also called in an environmental scientist to undertake tests to assess any potential risk to people living and working in the area, and to fire-fighters working on the the site.

According to environmental services manager (protection), Patricia Hughes, samples of air and burnt material were taken from the middle of the site and at the perimeter, in the direction of the prevailing winds.  

While EHDC is still awaiting the full results of testing for particulates, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds, it has been confirmed that at the time of sampling, there was nothing within the smoke leaving the site which would give rise to health concerns.

According to Dr Russell, no asbestos fibres were detected in any of the air samples, and while hydrogen chloride (from the plastic) was detected, the levels were below prescribed health and safety executive safety levels. Because the average concentration level of particulate dust on the site was close to the dust exposure limit, Dr Russell undertook sampling at the nearest house and this showed a dramatic drop in dust levels. The level was a factor of 10 below the exposure limit.

With regard to the potential contamination of other land with asbestos, EHDC has been advised by the Health Protection Agency that in cases where asbestos roofs do deteriorate or explode in a fire, the particles are usually deposited on the fire site, or very close to the site (in the direction of the prevailing winds).

"They have also advised that in the cases of fire, white asbestos does denature into a harmless dust at temperatures above 600 degrees C. Whilst the temperature of the fire was not taken, we understand from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, that it is very likely that this temperature was reached," said Ms Hughes.

She also pointed out that because during the first 12 hours of the incident, the wind direction was northerly, it is East Hampshire District Council's intention to contact the landowner north of the site – thought to be the Forestry Commission – to discuss the possibility of asbestos contamination.

EHDC will also liaise with Hart District Council as the land lies within its jurisdiction.