Report: The Investigation into the Presence and influence of Lead in the Silvermines area of County Tipperary

In early 1999, three cattle died from lead poisoning on a farm adjacent to the Gortmore Tailings Management Facility (TMF) in Silvermines, Co. Tipperary. Concern was expressed by people living in the area, and their public representatives, as to whether this had any wider significance for human or animal health in the area. Local concern was compounded by experiences in the 1980s which centred on dust-blows from the TMF and by a report published by the EPA in January 1991. That report pointed out inherent risks of the TMF to animal and human health and the environment. It stated that “the TMF represents a perpetual risk to human health and the environment. Thus it requires structured, comprehensive, active, and continued management”.