Smoky coal 'harming environment'

The air is being polluted and the risk of developing lung cancer can increase as a result of cash-strapped households burning smoky coal.

Scores of households in Northern Ireland are opting to use smoky coal as heating there is more expensive than in Great Britain and poverty levels are higher.

But district councils, which designate smoke control areas and enforce control measures, are warning people against the habit, as it leads to widespread air pollution and could lead to 12 cases of lung cancer during a 70-year lifetime.

That is according to a report investigating the impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on air quality.

The report, presented to Northern Ireland district councils, found there are higher smoke levels in many urban areas across Northern Ireland than is allowed under EU targets. This is mostly caused by households burning smoky coal.

Environment minister Alex Attwood said: "I would encourage people to burn only smokeless coal. It is slightly more expensive but scientific evidence shows that smokeless coal burns longer with a higher heat output."

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