Since thepublication of these studies, the UK Government has commissioned the Small Area Health Statistics Unit(SAHSU) at Imperial College to carry out a national study of congenital anomalies in populationsliving near to landfill sites (Elliott et al, British Medical Journal2001; 323: 363-8).This study found a small increase in congenitalanomalies in populations living close to landfill sites but no causal linkbetween landfill sites and birth defects was established.