The UKHSA says there is ‘minimal risk’ to public health in the longer term but residents who are feeling ill from the smell should seek advice
A “rotten-egg stench” in a Wiltshire town that has plagued residents for more than a year exceeded the World Health Organisation’s odour ‘annoyance’ guidelines more than 100 times over a six-month period, it has been revealed.
The Environment Agency (EA) started monitoring the Hills Waste landfill site near Calne last year after thousands of people reported the “disgusting smell” and said it was causing headaches, nausea and dizziness.
In the last two months alone, more than 1,600 complaints have been made to the EA about the odour, which is known locally as the ‘Calne pong’ or ‘Calne stink’.
Between last October and April this year, the EA has been checking for levels of hydrogen sulphide – a toxic gas – methane and particulates at the site, at Lower Compton, and in residential areas nearby.
On Thursday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) released a report that found there was a “minimal risk” to human health in the longer term from gases escaping from the site amid growing concerns among residents.
But it revealed repeated instances during the sixth-month monitoring period, which is still ongoing, where odour levels exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.
According to WHO, an odour becomes an ‘annoyance’ at levels of 7 µg/m3 (or 0.005 parts per million) over a 30-minute averaging period.
People exposed to hydrogen sulphide above this level can start to feel temporary symptoms including headaches, nausea, dizziness, watery eyes, stuffy nose, irritated throat, cough, sleep problems and stress, particularly if they have a pre-existing respiratory condition, such as asthma.
It is understood any symptoms would likely disappear once the levels in the air have reduced down again.
The UKHSA report found that over six months, acceptable levels of hydrogen sulphide were exceeded on 106 occasions. The highest 30-minute average concentration was 69.3 µg/m³ – roughly 10 times higher than WHO recommends.
The UKHSA is now recommending that “all appropriate measures” are taken to reduce the off-site odours from the landfill site and reduce the impact on the local community.
But it is also advising residents of Calne to contact their doctor regarding individual health concerns. It is understood this will allow the NHS to have a better understanding of the impact of the landfill site on health.
“While there is no evidence of a toxicological risk, there is strong evidence of odour annoyance,” said Lucy McCann, consultant in health protection at UKHSA South West. “If you have concerns about your individual circumstances and require health advice, please contact your GP.”
Meanwhile, Hills Waste is understood to be co-operating fully with the EA and is working to change how waste at the site is covered up, including capping off sections that are causing problems. Business Live understands the work should be finished in July with the odour issues expected to decline afterwards.
The EA will continue to “regulate the site closely” once the work is finished and will take further enforcement action where necessary to ensure permit compliance and minimise environmental impacts, it said.
A spokesperson for Hills Waste said: “Hills welcomes the report from UKHSA regarding the monitoring of air quality in Calne and any effects on human health.
“Hills has been working with the environment agency consistently during that time. Since May, Hills has accelerated the rate at which completed areas of landfill have been clay capped. Hills is also increasing the number of gas wells at the landfill with captured emissions being used for the generation of electricity.”
‘It is unbearable’
Leigh Randell, who lives in Calne with his wife and daughter, said: “I have been to the doctor three times, so I have medicine to take now for the headaches.
“We are fed up. The stink yesterday afternoon smelt like decomposing rubbish. My wife and little girl have asthma and they are heavily affected. It affects their breathing. It’s just unbearable.”
The EA is planning to host a community drop-in event at Calne Town Hall on Tuesday, July 21, from 4pm to 7pm. The event will be attended by representatives from the EA, UKHSA, Wiltshire Council and Hills.
Ben Shayler, area environment manager at the EA, said: “This drop in event will give residents the opportunity to understand the work we are doing to regulate Hills, and ask questions of the agencies involved.
“We have taken extensive action to require Hills to address the source of the odour, and these works are now nearing completion.
“We will continue to regulate the site closely and monitor to ensure the works have been effective.”









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