WITH the bonfire season being imminent, I thought it timely to highlight the potential dangers of dioxins.

These are cancer-causing chemicals for which no minimum safe limit has been established.

They are easily produced in fires when there is chlorine in the fuel, so please avoid the following:

Painted or treated wood

PVC or plastics such as crisp packets

Household or garden chemicals, or their empty containers

Tyres and waste engine oil.

Not that I'm saying that you will contract cancer on breathing smoke from these - but it's always best to reduce the risk. Only the most modern and properly managed incinerators have the ability to minimise the production of dioxins when these items are burnt.

Enjoy your bonfire night.

ANTHONY POWELL

Russet Road, Weaverham.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.