HOUSEHOLDERS in Yorkshire are being urged to have fewer bonfires as part of a Government war on cancer-causing chemicals.
Hospitals and councils will also be forced to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds to reduce the levels of dioxins they release into the atmosphere from incinerators.
The Government has implemented new EU guidelines ordering a dramatic cut in dioxin emissions from waste incinerators, from 1.0 nanograms per cubic metre to 0.1, or no more than one part in ten billion.
Environment Minister Michael Meacher said: "Incinerators are only a very, very, very small part of dioxin emissions. We have got to concentrate on other things - small fires in back gardens, bonfires on Guy Fawkes Night are quite big contributors."
"We must ensure people have a better understanding of the potential problems."
Updated: 10:16 Monday, January 20, 2003
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