Good news has emerged from an in-depth environmental report on the effects of the Tynes Bay incinerator.

The Ministry of the Environment, Planning and Natural Resources yesterday released a report detailing the levels of contamination in the Island's air, soil and tank water.

The Environment Bermuda, Atmospheric and Terrestrial Studies 1990-1996 contains the result of a series of studies carried out around the Island by Dr. Kent Simmons of the Bermuda Biological Station and overseen by Dr. Thomas Sleeter, the Ministry's environmental engineer.

The report grew out of concerns that the construction of the Tynes Bay Incinerator might pose a threat to air quality. But tests have revealed that during the first two years of operation, the incinerator has not caused any apparent ill effects on the Island's air quality.

But Dr. Simmons urged caution:"I won't say that we will never see anything, but so far nothing significant has turned up.'' The study found that the air quality in Bermuda was generally good thanks in part to the moderating effect of the ocean breezes.

"However, the quality can be clearly be described as questionable near some of the larger points sources (like the incinerator and power generators) and high traffic areas,'' the report stated.

The winds also played a positive factor in an environmental concern for boat owners in the West End.

In response to complaints from boat owners in Dockyard regarding the emission of soot and gases from the cruise ship Meridian , a mobile air quality monitoring response vehicle took air samples during the summer of 1995 and 1996.

Dr. Simmons said poor air quality only occurred under certain circumstances in Dockyard -- when the wind blows over the ship.

The report stated: "It occurs only a couple of times during the cruise ship season, May through October when turbulence, created by southerly winds passing over the ship, causes the particles and gases to down draft and disperse into the general Dockyard area.'' "The majority of the time, it is blowing towards the channel and we get a reading of zero,'' Dr. Simmons added. "But sometimes it does occur.'' Monitoring of the St. George's cruise ships as well as the BELCO emission showed that no "significant'' pollutant levels were observed.

The report also stated that the average pH of local rain was "mildly acidic'' at 4.8. A pH of seven is considered neutral.

But Dr. Simmons said that all rain water, any where, tended to be naturally acidic due to atmospheric conditions.

"Tests conducted recently on tank waters Island-wide have demonstrated, however, that in spite of recognised problems, Bermuda drinking waters are of a very high quality,'' the report added.

This is due to the fact that the chemistry of typical tank water is different from rainwater.

"Tank waters have a typical pH about 7.6; they are not acidic like rainwater of pH 4.6,'' the report explained. "This indicates that acid rain is neutralised by the limestone in roof and tank structures.'' And the acidic nature of the rain water has had no ill effect on the Island's soil.

According to the report, Bermuda's calcium carbonate based soil neutralises acids immediately upon contact and has resulted in "relatively'' little impact on the natural waters and vegetation.

But Dr. Simmons said that the study on the soil was important because prior to the research "we didn't have a really good chemistry of the soil''.

The report contained some good news, thanks to the introduction of unleaded gasoline in 1990. Air test results showed a significant reduction in atmospheric lead at all test sites.

"The overall decline in airborne lead concentrations is thus seen to be directly related to the reduction of lead in gasoline,'' the report stated.

Dr. Simmons told The Royal Gazette that the report contained no glaring surprises, but he admitted that he had expected to see "something'' from the incinerator.

"I thought I might see something from the incinerator,'' he said. "But we haven't really seen anything significant from the smoke stack.'' However the report revealed that the City of Hamilton, like cities everywhere, was a major contributor of pollutants.

"Studies have concluded that the principal source of acid gases are generally located in and around the City of Hamilton,'' the report stated.

And Dr. Simmons pointed out that a test site, set up primarily to monitor the incinerator, picked up readings from Hamilton.

"From the tests at the Prospect station we noticed something from Hamilton,'' he said. "When the winds were blowing from Hamilton you could see a signal, but no real problem.'' In general, Dr. Simmons said he found no glaring environmental concerns, but pointed out that the Island was not totally in the clear.

"I wouldn't say that we don't have any problems,'' he pointed out.

He said areas like East Broadway and the BELCO power plant produced readings that were consistent with high traffic and industrial area.

"The higher the traffic and activity, the higher the concentrations,'' Dr.

Simmons said.

Despite the lack of "surprises'', Dr. Simmons said the report was an important one because it revealed the basic chemical make-up of the Island's air, water and soil.

"It is very important to understand what the baseline chemistry is of the air, water and soil,'' he explained. "And that is what we have done.

"We tried to spot any difference due to the incinerator but at this point nothing stands out. Some things did stand out, but nothing big enough to cause a stir.'' The public will be able to obtain copies of the report from the Environment Ministry on Friday.

GOVERNMENT GVT