❓ Question regarding heavy metal testing, health monitoring, and noise pollution impacts on residents near Alcoa refineries in Wagerup and Yarloop, with a reference to another question for the answer.
AnsweredQoN 988Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Regarding the testing for heavy metal accumulation in blood and tissue of long-term residents near Alcoa refineries and residue drying area (mudlakes) in Wagerup and Yarloop, I ask: (a) has the Minister or the Department of Health ever been
asked by local residents, who live near the refineries, to conduct medical
blood or tissue testing; (b) have residents been offered medical testing to
identify what heavy metal concentration their bodies hold; (c) if no to (b), why not; (d) what baseline health data is used by the
Minister or the department to monitor heavy metal concentration in residents
near the refineries, especially in light of the licensed extension of
production; (e) if no such baseline data is currently available,
when will the department collect such data; (f) have water tanks in the area been tested
regarding heavy metal content and concentration in the water; (g) if no to (f), why not; (h) given that groundwater extraction is not
permitted around the refineries, do similar restrictions exist regarding the
use of water tanks; (i) if yes to (h), why; (j) if no to (h), why not; (k) how does the department monitor the health of
the residents around the Alcoa plants; (l) if the department does not monitor the health of
residents around the Alcoa plants, why not; (m) why have the residents in Esperance been tested
for heavy metal but not the residents in Yarloop and surrounding communities; (n) what is the Ministers advice to residents
regarding sleep deprivation due to noise from both the rail traffic in the
Yarloop rail corridor and Wagerup refinery outside of the Alcoa Area A, and its
long term impact on human health; and (o) what testing or assistance has been offered to
residents who have reported the impact of sleep deprivation due to rail and
refinery noise emissions in Yarloop?
asked by local residents, who live near the refineries, to conduct medical
blood or tissue testing; (b) have residents been offered medical testing to
identify what heavy metal concentration their bodies hold; (c) if no to (b), why not; (d) what baseline health data is used by the
Minister or the department to monitor heavy metal concentration in residents
near the refineries, especially in light of the licensed extension of
production; (e) if no such baseline data is currently available,
when will the department collect such data; (f) have water tanks in the area been tested
regarding heavy metal content and concentration in the water; (g) if no to (f), why not; (h) given that groundwater extraction is not
permitted around the refineries, do similar restrictions exist regarding the
use of water tanks; (i) if yes to (h), why; (j) if no to (h), why not; (k) how does the department monitor the health of
the residents around the Alcoa plants; (l) if the department does not monitor the health of
residents around the Alcoa plants, why not; (m) why have the residents in Esperance been tested
for heavy metal but not the residents in Yarloop and surrounding communities; (n) what is the Ministers advice to residents
regarding sleep deprivation due to noise from both the rail traffic in the
Yarloop rail corridor and Wagerup refinery outside of the Alcoa Area A, and its
long term impact on human health; and (o) what testing or assistance has been offered to
residents who have reported the impact of sleep deprivation due to rail and
refinery noise emissions in Yarloop?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 May 2014
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
42 days
Please refer to Legislative Council Question on Notice 882.
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