Moanataiari advice reinforced
Health authorities are reinforcing current advice to Thames residents
of the suburb of Moanataiari to avoid coming into contact with soil and
dust following the results from more soil testing.
Levels of both lead and arsenic have been found at higher than recommended levels.
Thames Coromandel District Council, Waikato Regional Council and the
Waikato District Health Board have been working together on providing
information as a result of the tests.
Both the Waikato District Health Board and the Ministry of Health
recognise the public concern from the confirmation of high levels of
these substances.
Medical Officer of Health Dr Dell Hood (pictured) says questions
about the availability and value of testing are to be expected.
Blood testing for lead is available via GPs where individuals have
particular reason to be concerned about their exposure, but it is
probably unnecessary and unhelpful for most residents.
Even when levels are elevated, for most people the first step to take
will be reducing exposure, which is the advice which has from the
outset been given to all residents.
|
Dr Dell Hood
Medical Officer of Health |
Our advice, confirmed with the Ministry of Health, is that individuals who are concerned about their exposure, or who have symptoms which may be linked to exposure to lead or arsenic should talk with their family doctor.
Thames residents do not feature to an unusual degree in a recent review of all notifications of raised lead levels. High blood lead levels are required by law to be notified to the medical officer of health.
Measurement of arsenic is much more complex. Arsenic levels in urine reflect consumption in the last few days only, and include the non toxic form of arsenic that is present in seafood. It is the long term level that is important in increasing the risk of some diseases.
Hair and nail arsenic measurements are not available via the public health system because they are too subject to contamination from the environment. It is the regular swallowing of small amounts of arsenic which can, over time, increase the risk of some diseases.
Health officials are waiting until the second round of soil tests have been completed within the next few weeks and the results analysed before reviewing that advice. The properties believed to have the higher levels were tested first.
Dr Hood says that local medical practices, midwives and well child providers are being kept informed, and that anyone who is concerned should seek health advice that relates specifically to their own circumstances.
The arsenic and lead are believed to have come from waste rock from mining used to reclaim land for the Moanataiari subdivision in the early 1900s through to the 1960s.
Soil testing is being coordinated by the Thames Coromandel District Council and final results are due with all residents of Moanataiari by June 2012.
Remedial action plans will be ready by the end of September.
Advice for residents
The Ministry of Health advice about protection against arsenic, also applies to lead. The advice to Moanataiari residents is to:
- Take care with handwashing after all soil contact. This includes children who should wash their hands after playing outdoors.
- Make sure children do not eat or play in soil.
- Remove footwear before going indoors.
- Cover soil (grass, paving, gravel) and or keep it damp to reduce dust and direct access by young children.
- Damp wiping of dust indoors rather than vacuum cleaning or sweeping, which may spread dust.
- Do not eat homegrown fruit and vegetables.
- If unwell, see a doctor.
- Not be concerned about using drinking water supply, as it is separate and safe. This has been double checked with repeat testing done since the soil contamination was identified.
ENDS
3 April 2012
Contact:
Mary Anne Gill
Communications Director
Waikato District Health Board
021 705 213
Residents warned over soil arsenic
People are being advised to avoid coming into contact with soil and dust in the Thames suburb of Moanataiari after testing revealed arsenic 235 times the national safety standard.
An urgent meeting has been called for 5.30pm tomorrow at the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre where experts from Thames Coromandel District Council, Waikato Regional Council and the Waikato District Health Board will update people on the findings of the tests.
The arsenic is believed to have come from mine tailings used to reclaim land for the Moanataiari subdivision many years ago.
It is a naturally-forming substance rather than a chemical used in mining but chronic ingestion of it has been linked to causing some types of cancers and can result in types of cardio-vascular problems.
|
|
Thames Coromandel District Council spokesman Ben Day confirmed all 28 testing sites on road verges had returned readings above the national standard of 20mg of arsenic to a litre of soil.
"We have some very high levels in places the highest surface reading (at 10cm) is 350mg,17 times the national standard.''
Mr Day said the highest overall reading was 4700mg at a depth of one metre, 235 times the national standard.
Further testing would now be carried out "as soon as possible'' with attention on 212 individual properties.
Thames Coromandel District Mayor Glenn Leach said health was the primary concern.
"It's not a matter at the moment of anything other than the fact of dealing with the health issue an escalation of this is different to anything that has ever happened anywhere," he said.
Advice for residents
The Ministry of Health has advised Moanataiari residents to:
- Take care with personal hygiene (wash hands after handling soil).
- Make sure children do not eat or play in soil.
- Remove footwear before going indoors.
- Cover soil (grass, paving, gravel) to reduce dust and direct access by young children.
- Not eat homegrown fruit and vegetables.
- If unwell, see a doctor.
- Not be concerned about using drinking water supply, as it is separate and safe.
More on contaminated land.
ENDS
Date: 21 November 2011
Contact:
Simon Beattie
Press Secretary
Office of the Hon Dr Nick Smith MP
Minister for the Environment, Minister for Climate Change Issues, Minister for ACC
DDI +64 4 817 8271 | Cell 021 243 8271
