INCINERATORS like the one in Edmonton that are well run and regulated do not pose a significant threat to public health, according to air pollution experts.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has reviewed the latest scientific evidence on the health effects of modern municipal waste incinerators.

It found that modern incinerators cause a fraction of one per cent of pollution found in the air, compared to 50 per cent caused by traffic and industry.

In a recent report, the Agency concludes that adverse health effects cannot be ruled out completely.

But it says that any potential damage from modern, well run and regulated incinerators is likely to be so small that it would be undetectable.

A HPA spokesman said: “European Union Directives aimed at minimising landfill a leading to an increased use of incineration, and research suggests that this will not cause any significant adverse health effects.

 “The evidence suggests that any potential damage to health of those living close to incinerators is likely to be very small, if detectable.

"The Agency therefore does not believe that studies of public health around individual incinerators are scientifically justifiable.”

The Edmonton incinerator, now called the LondonWaste EcoPark, in Advent Way, Edmonton, has been the scene of demonstrations by Greenpeace activists who claimed it emitted "a cocktail of chemicals".

In October 2000 they scaled and occupied the station's chimney, shutting its operations down for four days.

While in 2007 the abnormally high infant death rate in the affluent Chingford Green area was blamed on toxic fumes.

Friends of the Earth and Londoners Against Incineration have also been active on the subject.

However bosses at the incinerator have always maintained it is safe.