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Health

SELCHP chimney and plant buildings, lorry outside.

Burning plastic at SELCHP incinerator, Deptford - what's coming out of the flue?

The facility has been burning household waste since 1993, and much of that waste is plastics. But concerns about the chemicals in plastics, and the dangers of air pollution, have grown. Wales offers a vision of a different way to manage waste, with some councils recycling over 70% of waste.

Met office map of heatwave across mainland Europe, spreading to southern UK

London pollution alert - ozone soars in the heat

Imperial College London air quality experts warned of high ozone levels for Tuesday 12th August, due to the effect of strong sunshine and high temperatures on London's background pollution from road traffic.

London ambulance in motion.

'Silent killer' - why are heatwaves so dangerous?

Research shows that heatwaves are the most dangerous type of extreme weather and London is the UK city most at risk. People living in deprived areas face the greatest risks to their health. We asked Lewisham council how it is responding to the threat.

St John's Medical Centre, Loampit Hill

St John's GP surgery opens PrEP clinic in UK first

St John's Medical Centre has started a weekly clinic offering HIV prevention medicine to anyone who lives in Lewisham. This is the first time that a full PrEP service has been offered from a GP in the UK, and Lewisham council hope that it will widen access.

Disabled people using e-assist bikes in traffic at major junction

Police impound disabled man's wheelchair for 3 weeks

A severely disabled man from New Cross was left housebound and completely dependent on friends and family, while he appealed to police to release his wheelchair from Charlton Vehicle Pound.

The SELCHP chimney and plant

Why is the UK's 8th largest incinerator sited in the heart of Deptford?

The SELCHP plant is located in a densely populated and deprived area. It burns 360,000 tonnes of household waste per year. The plant was commissioned in 1987, while campaigners fought against the rise in rubbish dumps and scrap metal yards across Deptford.