Dear Supporter I don't believe in scaremongering, but I though I would share FM Conway's and Public Health England's positions in the interests of balance, as well as venturing my personal beliefs about the health impacts of the fumes from the asphalt plant. FM Conway’s position is that any odours that are periodically experienced from their plant, whilst they can be a nuisance, are not harmful. As reported on the Get West London website recently, the company said "As a result of this investment, emissions from the plant sit well below regulatory requirements. Only water vapour is emitted by the plant’s chimney stack." Public Health England's, assessment of the monitoring results for VOCs which I believe was sent to Hillingdon Council in 2015, in my opinion does not make an authoritative case that the odours are harmless. Public Health England’s assessment of the monitoring results for benzene within the main stack was above the UK air quality standard but substantial dilution on release from the stack would take place before any contact with a sensitive receptor. The WHO has stated that human exposure to benzene has been associated with a range of acute and long-term adverse health effects and diseases, including cancer and aplastic anaemia The level of aromatic VOCs (volatile organic compounds), including alkylbenzenes, alkylphenols and cyclic aromatics were above WHO (World Health Organisation, EA (Environment Agency) and the TPHCWG (Total Petroleum Hydocarbon Criteria Group) reference concentrations or guidelines. Public Health England said that the levels detected were unlikely to represent the levels experienced by the public beyond the site boundary as levels of VOCs would be expected to decrease due to dispersal. The PHE were unable to give a more detailed assessment of potential risks to public health, in the absence of dispersion modelling or measurement of levels off site. In my opinion, it cannot current be said with convincing authority that the substances that are perceived as odourous are present at levels below which there is a toxicological effect. I personally find that the fumes are an irritant to my eyes, nose, throat and chest, resulting in itchy eyes and a burning sensation in my respiratory system. FM Conway and the local authorities should be doing off site monitoring at selected residences and schools in the vicinity of the asphalt plant, to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the VOCs are diluted to harmless levels but it should be noted that WHO do not have a specific guideline value for Benzene in the air. Benzene is carcinogenic to humans, and no safe level of exposure can be recommended.