A specialist firm is clearing the former British Tar plant at Cadishead, Salford.
There are plans to build 288 homes on the land, left contaminated by 90 years of use by chemical, munitions and tar firms.
But local people have alerted the council's environmental health officers after strong petrol-like fumes hit the area.
The fire service was contacted and they said the smell had been identified as naphthalene from the works on Hayes Road.
The chemical is used in mothballs and can be released into the environment as a result of discharges from coal-tar production.
Research has shown that people exposed to large numbers of such mothballs have suffered acute anaemia, cataracts, nausea, headaches and liver and kidney problems.
Maureen and Tony McGovern, who live in nearby Fir Street, say they have been so badly hit they have twice spent time in Wales to escape the fumes.
Pungent
They first noticed the pungent smell in June and contacted both the fire service and the council.
In July, Mrs McGovern saw her doctor as the fumes affected her breathing and was given steroids - but the fumes continued, her breathing was still bad and she lost her voice.
She said: "My husband and I went to stay in Wales for nine days to recover.
"But when we came home, I could smell naphthalene in the house again."
Mr McGovern said: "A neighbour with two young children has also complained and been sent diary sheets to complete by the council. He is worried over his children's health."
Mrs McGovern added: "I have no doubt that fumes from the site have caused my health problems. We received no warning that this work was taking place."
The work on the site, by Bristol-based Vertase FLI, will go on until March. A spokesman said: "Due to the type of contamination, odours were expected and we conducted a letter drop to explain.
"We are aware of complaints and are working closely with Salford and the Environment Agency."
A spokesman for Salford council said: "Clearly some residents are experiencing unpleasant smells and we are monitoring work to help keep that to a minimum." Tweet
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If in fact they ¿¿<sup>~</sup>received no warning that this work was taking place¿¿<sup>TM</sup> may be this is because they live so far from the site? I am a ¿¿<sup>~</sup>local¿¿<sup>TM</sup> resident of the area and can confirm that a (very informative) letter arrived through my door informing us of the works ¿¿" on more than one occasion. A significant number of residents (my neighbours) live closer than the family in question who had not seen the need to complain about improving the site/environment ¿¿" these people are not short-sighted enough to be able to the benefits of finally doing something with this horrible piece of land instead of turning it into another traveler community.
I have lived here for longer than I care to remember, and this short term odour caused by the clean-up is nothing in comparison to the long-term odours produced in its 90 year history. Not only by the site in question, but a number of surrounding sites (the areas was once, and remains to an extent, very heavily industrialised with similar works) ¿¿" it would not be surprising is long term resident of the area all had similar health problems because of this part of Manchester¿¿<sup>TM</sup>s industrial past.
¿¿oeResearch has shown that people exposed to large numbers of such mothballs have suffered acute anaemia, cataracts, nausea, headaches and liver and kidney problems.¿¿¿ Research has also shown that aspartame has serious human health concerns including brain cancer, lymphoma, and genotoxic effects, but we still drink plenty of this as artificial sweetener and feed it to our children!
The community of Cadishead is being improved by these much needed and overdue works.
Common sense no longer prevails ¿¿" would they prefer to have the old chemical works coughing out similar chemicals? This works is much needed in our run-down community, this compensation culture will only destroy it further. Spurious claims and the no win no fee brigades are actually making the situation worse not better and the sooner they go the better.
I for one welcome the improvements!!
I am the person who is badly affected by the Site Clearance being done at the former British Tar Works/Clariant Chemical Site and I do not come from this Compensation Culture and at no time had Compensation been mentioned until Anon of Hayes Road brought it up. Residents of Fir Street did not receive any communication from Vertase as other residents have told me so and Fir Street is approx, 250yds from the Site. The fumed have also been detected in Partington. I was born and have lived all my life in the Fir Street area of Csadishead and have never before been affected in any way until this Clearance Work started. What I am suffering cannot be faked and the effects on me have been seen by 2 Doctors, a Local Councillor and many other Residents of Cadishead. Proof is in the fact that when I leave Cadishead the symptoms clear up, but as soon as I return they come back again. If all the other people who say they are being affected by this work, read what these Chemicals can cause (this info can be fiound on the Internet) they should also complain about it not just put up with it so that some large Companies can make money. This Company is Health Screening it's own workmen - Why are they doing this if it is not detrimental to the health of the Residents of Cadishead. I will fight as long as I cabn because my quality of life is severely affected as well as my health and I am entitled to breaath clean air. The Chemicals that are Contaminating the Air are: NAPHTHALENE, BENZENE, TOLUEN, XYLENE, PHENOL AND STYRENE along with other Chemicals, which according to the Health Protection Agency, have not yet been identified. I have written confirmation of this.This Anonymous person from Hayes Road is very lucky not to be affected and has no consideration for people who are and has no thought for anyone who might be foolish enough to buy one of these hiouses that are going to be built on this Site - Look what happened on the olf Royles Engineering Site. They cannot sell their houses and according to the Newspaper are having their Health monitored. I am not afraid to be identified my name is Maureen McGovern and I live in Fir Street, Cadishead.
Further to my comments on 7th Sept. Councillor Mann, who has been very helpful, informed my Husband and I that 'Work on the Site has been STOPPED from Mid-day on Friday 1st Sept. The Contractors are now required to submit a Plan whereby they will eliminate all odours coming off the Site. So far they have not done so'.
For this to happen, something must be wrong.
Even though the work has been stopped, the air is still contaminated as the fumes must be rising out of the soil.
I am still being badly affected and God knows if the air will ever be clean again since this PANDORA'S BOX was opened.
Maureen McGovern, Fir Street, Cadishead
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