FRESH fears have been raised about the health risks of living near hazardous landfill sites, three of which are in the Barry area.

Research at 23 sites across Europe has shown an increased level of health problems among people living nearby.

While Barry does not have any tips taking toxic waste, it does have three of the nine Welsh sites licensed for asbestos. They are at Graving Dock, Barry, Rhoose Point and Greenwood Quarry, Wenvoe.

Now Welsh government ministers, while trying to allay fears, have promised to help fresh investigations into Welsh tips.

New concerns were raised when a report appeared in the medical journal The Lancet outlining the results of a European health survey.

The study reports increased rates of birth defects, such as Down's syndrome, among populations living close to the 23 European sites.

In the past local residents who campaigned about asbestos left at local tips were told it was safer to leave it there than move it.

Welsh Assembly Ministers Sue Essex and Jane Hutt have now stepped in and promised to work with local councils to investigate the relevance of the report to Welsh sites.

But Minister for Health Jane Hutt said: "It is important to remember no research to date has proved that landfills cause ill health.

"The report's authors themselves state that further research is necessary to prove if there is any link between birth defects and hazardous waste landfill sites and such research is already being taken forward by the UK government."

Minister for Environment Sue Essex added: "The government published a more extensive study covering a much wider number of landfill sites across the UK last summer. This report stated that excess risks of birth defects to those living within a 2km radius of hazardous waste landfill sites were small and could be accounted for by factors other than landfill sites."

She added: "Once the report is published the Assembly will consider those sites that accept hazardous waste with relevant local councils, health authorities and the Environment Agency. Local residents can be assured that their concerns will be addressed as priorities."