The Department of Health has taken pre-emptive action to prevent a full-on health scare over the risks posed by landfill sites.

Ahead of a report to be published on Friday which reveals a higher rate of birth defects in babies born close to landfill sites, the deputy chief medical officer issued a statement explaining the reason behind the findings.

Dr Pat Troop published information explaining the reason behind the slightly higher rate of minor foetal abnormalities in babies born to women living close to landfill sites.

She said that living close to a landfill dump poses "no significant risk" to health - stressing that the risks are much lower than those associated with smoking and drinking.

The findings follow "the most comprehensive survey of its kind" into landfill sites conducted by the government.

The Department of Health's intervention ahead of publication of the evidence was not a "cover-up or an attempt to spin the research" a spokesman indicated.

Ministers, however, are expected to announce further investigations between foetal abnormalities and landfill sites in a bid to re-assure the public that there is no substantial risk to health.

The research into landfill sites was carried out by the DoH's Small Area Health Statistics Unit between 1987 and 1998 and examined the effects of 9,500 landfill sites.