Alarm over release of toxic air pollutant in Northern Beaches

Wednesday, 08 August 2007 22:26

“News of the facility’s closure by Pittwater Council following advice from the NSW Health advisory panel has justifiably alarmed local residents who are demanding to know what the risks from ethylene oxide exposure in their community are”, said NTN’s Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith.

“Those at high risk of health impacts from exposure to the pollutant include infants and children, pregnant women and those with chemical sensitivities and respiratory problems”, said Dr Lloyd-Smith.

Local resident Kim Brebach believes the toxic pollutant has been emitted from the site for at least the past 5 years and possibly for as long as the past 20 years. Residents are demanding to know why there has not been appropriate regulatory oversight of the facility at the state level.

“This type of facility should be regulated by NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change and not left to Council to manage. There has been a systemic failure which has allowed this pollution to occur for many years, placing residents’ health at risk”, said TEC’s Director, Jeff Angel.

Similar pollution events have occurred in the USA where an enforcement action was brought against a provider of medical sterilisation services for its violation of the federal standards for ethylene oxide emissions from sterilisation facilities in six US states and the emission of toxic pollutants which posed serious health risks to the community.

According to NSW Health’s advice to local residents, ethylene oxide is a carcinogen that could cause lymphoma and leukemia after prolonged exposure. The US EPA states that ethylene oxide has the potential to cause serious reproductive harm, damage to the liver and kidneys, aggravate asthma and damage lung cells.

Given the length of possible exposure, residents are calling for NSW Health to conduct a detailed health study to determine if residents suffer from higher than normal rates of cancers and other related illnesses.

“This dangerous and unregulated release of a known carcinogen into the community raises wider concerns about the number of other communities potentially exposed to health hazards due to lack of regulatory control of polluting industries”, Mr Angel said.

For further information contact:
National Toxics Network Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith (02) 6681 5340 or mobile 0413621557
Total Environment Centre (02) 9261 3437
Kim Brebach 0403 991 079