HEREFORDSHIRE Council will consider investigating the health impact of intensive chicken farms.

Herefordshire has one of the highest densities of intensive poultry farms of any county – with more than 1,000 birds per square km, according to figures by the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

The Health and Safety Executive says recent research into the incidence of ill health in British farming reported a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms in poultry farm workers.

These workers can be exposed to significant amounts of airborne dust generated during poultry work activities which can lead to both acute and chronic symptoms.

The symptoms suggests that poultry dust may cause harm by various mechanisms, including allergic reaction and direct irritancy and there is strong evidence to support a risk of occupational asthma associated with exposure to certain components in the dust.

The adults and wellbeing scrutiny committee agreed this week to include this issue in their work programme.

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Council officers are preparing a scoping statement for a group of councillors to investigate the health impact of the intensive poultry units on the wider population in the county.

Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst said: “The vicechairman and I have been discussing the possibility of undertaking a task and finish group on the health impact of the intensive poultry industry.

“The timing will be dependent on the availability of public health and the intelligence unit officers to progress it.

“Therefore, I’d like to ask that a scoping statement be prepared for consideration by the committee.”