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Cllr Maureen Rowbotham, who took ICI to court
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ICI cancer scare
Exclusive by Emma Mountford7/ 8/2008
WORKERS from Middleton and north Manchester who developed cancer after being exposed to chemicals at Blackley's giant ICI plant could be in line for thousands of pounds in compensation.
City centre law firm, Pannone, is looking into the case and is urging employees who worked at the site between 1950 and 1980 to get in touch.
Pannone said the enquiry was "in respect of people who have developed bladder cancer as a result of chemical exposure at that company".
The development is the latest in a long list of health scares surrounding the former chemical plant.
In 1979 a fume cupboard fire at one of the laboratories had a devastating impact on the firefighters who were called to tackle the blaze.
Kevin Brown, regional secretary for the Fire Brigade's Union in the north west, said: "It was only a small fire and firefighters extinguished the fire quickly. Some of them were sent up on the roof to block the air vent from the laboratory to prevent fumes from spreading to the surrounding area.
"But the firefighters were inhaling and ingesting a cocktail of noxious chemicals."
Since the incident seven of the crew that attended - all aged in their 30s and 40s - have died from cancer, blood disorders and one rare medical condition, while others have suffered from various health problems and mysterious illnesses.
Despite an inquiry, no link has ever been established between the fatalities and exposure to the toxic fumes but Mr Brown believes this latest appeal by Pannone may bring about new developments.
He added: "We will be looking at this and will probably get in touch with Pannone on this issue because we've had concerns regarding our staff."
More recently in 2006 developers for Harrow Estates - which bought the site in 2004 - discovered an underground tank containing "low-level" concentrations of a highly flammable substance with a very strong odour called carbon disulphide. Although only toxic in high concentrations, hundreds of local residents reported feeling nauseous.
Middleton councillor, Maureen Rowbotham, who worked for ICI for 20 years before being made redundant in 1979, has also welcomed Pannone's involvement.
She said: "It is urgent that anyone who worked there who has any information gets in touch with Pannone."
Councillor Rowbotham herself took ICI to court in 1991 over a drug she had worked on at the company. Although she lost her case she is urging former employees to get in touch with the city centre law firm.
"I hope people do pass on information, people have died," she added.
Employees who worked in the Vulcafor, Dianol and Newlakes departments have been asked to call Pannone on 0161 909 1485.
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Will such brownfield land developments cause illness in yesrs to come?
19/08/2008 at 21:39