London, April 23 : A new health survey has linked the collection of waste every alternate week to the risk of a number of diseases, including asthma.

The survey, published in Science of the Total Environment, showed that the levels of bacteria and fungal spores produced by decaying waste were ten times higher in streets where the bins were collected fortnightly rather than weekly.

Scientists who conducted the study said that the waste gathered outside homes might expose residents to asthma and other respiratory diseases. They also said that the problems might worsen due to warm weather in the summers.

“If rubbish is decaying for two weeks and is heated by warm weather, it provides a fertile breeding ground for spores,” the Daily Mail quoted Dr Tom Kosatsky, a medical epidemiologist at McGill University in Montreal, as saying.

“Exposure to fungi on this level can trigger sore throats, respiratory symptoms, faintness, weakness and depression, asthma and other allergic reactions,” he added.

The results of the Whitehall-funded research come at a crucial time when the authorities have shifted to the alternate weekly collection from the weekly rubbish disposal, in order to cut costs.

Scientists say that residents of places, where binmen pay visits later than one week, are more likely to be infested by insects and vermin like rats.

“Councils introduced the change without recognising there may be a risk to occupational health,” Dr Toni Gladding, a lecturer in environmental engineering at the Open University said.

A spokesman for the environment department has, however, denied that alternate weekly collections have anything to do with the risk of diseases.

“There is no evidence of adverse health impacts from alternate weekly collection compared to weekly collection,” he said. (ANI)