Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has commissioned research into the potential impact of toxic emissions from battery storage fires near residential areas on public health.

The Department has not formally commissioned research into this topic. However, on 14 March 2025, the Environment Agency published the paper, Net zero: Environmental and social implications of energy storage technologies: summary, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-environmental-and-social-implications-of-energy-storage-technologies/net-zero-environmental-and-social-implications-of-energy-storage-technologies-summary

On 3 June 2025, a paper was also placed in the House of Commons library which has details of Battery energy storage systems; this is available at the following link:

https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7621/CBP-7621.pdf

Despite the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) not currently undertaking research per se on fires involving lithium ion batteries, UKHSA draws upon previously published Public Health England guidance on products of combustion, for example, Combustion products: a toxicological review, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/combustion-products-a-toxicological-review

In addition, practical guidance has been developed by the Waste Industry Safety and Health forum, Fire Risk and Lithium Batteries at Waste Transfer, Recycling and Recovery Operations, which is available at the following link:

https://www.wishforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/INFO-08.pdf