❓ A parliamentary question addresses concerns about heavy metal contamination in Goldfields children, specifically cadmium, mercury, lead, aluminium, and barium. The Minister for Health denies the Department has received relevant medical results or is conducting epidemiological studies, clarifying their limited role in monitoring.
AnsweredQoN 1078Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION — GOLDFIELDS — HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION
I refer to the review of the Environmental Protection (Goldfields Residential Areas) (Sulfur Dioxide) Policy analysis of submissions on the Environmental Protection Authority website. (1) In issue 14, health, is it correct that alarming medical results of children with high levels of heavy metals—cadmium, mercury, lead, aluminium and barium—six times the acceptable reference range, have been recorded in the area? (2) If no to (1), what is the current situation? (3) Is the Department of Health conducting epidemiological studies alongside the suggested monitoring from the Department of Environment and Conservation—DEC—arising from this report? (4) What is the health department’s involvement with the monitoring undertaken by DEC, industry and local government in the lead-up to the development of the air quality monitoring program for the Goldfields residential area? Hon HELEN MORTON
I refer to the review of the Environmental Protection (Goldfields Residential Areas) (Sulfur Dioxide) Policy analysis of submissions on the Environmental Protection Authority website. (1) In issue 14, health, is it correct that alarming medical results of children with high levels of heavy metals—cadmium, mercury, lead, aluminium and barium—six times the acceptable reference range, have been recorded in the area? (2) If no to (1), what is the current situation? (3) Is the Department of Health conducting epidemiological studies alongside the suggested monitoring from the Department of Environment and Conservation—DEC—arising from this report? (4) What is the health department’s involvement with the monitoring undertaken by DEC, industry and local government in the lead-up to the development of the air quality monitoring program for the Goldfields residential area? Hon HELEN MORTON
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(1) In issue 14, health, is it correct that alarming medical results of children with high levels of heavy metals—cadmium, mercury, lead, aluminium and barium—six times the acceptable reference range, have been recorded in the area? (2) If no to (1), what is the current situation? (3) Is the Department of Health conducting epidemiological studies alongside the suggested monitoring from the Department of Environment and Conservation—DEC—arising from this report? (4) What is the health department’s involvement with the monitoring undertaken by DEC, industry and local government in the lead-up to the development of the air quality monitoring program for the Goldfields residential area? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(2) If no to (1), what is the current situation? (3) Is the Department of Health conducting epidemiological studies alongside the suggested monitoring from the Department of Environment and Conservation—DEC—arising from this report? (4) What is the health department’s involvement with the monitoring undertaken by DEC, industry and local government in the lead-up to the development of the air quality monitoring program for the Goldfields residential area? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(3) Is the Department of Health conducting epidemiological studies alongside the suggested monitoring from the Department of Environment and Conservation—DEC—arising from this report? (4) What is the health department’s involvement with the monitoring undertaken by DEC, industry and local government in the lead-up to the development of the air quality monitoring program for the Goldfields residential area? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(4) What is the health department’s involvement with the monitoring undertaken by DEC, industry and local government in the lead-up to the development of the air quality monitoring program for the Goldfields residential area? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(1) No. (2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(1) In issue 14, health, is it correct that alarming medical results of children with high levels of heavy metals—cadmium, mercury, lead, aluminium and barium—six times the acceptable reference range, have been recorded in the area? (2) If no to (1), what is the current situation? (3) Is the Department of Health conducting epidemiological studies alongside the suggested monitoring from the Department of Environment and Conservation—DEC—arising from this report? (4) What is the health department’s involvement with the monitoring undertaken by DEC, industry and local government in the lead-up to the development of the air quality monitoring program for the Goldfields residential area? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(2) If no to (1), what is the current situation? (3) Is the Department of Health conducting epidemiological studies alongside the suggested monitoring from the Department of Environment and Conservation—DEC—arising from this report? (4) What is the health department’s involvement with the monitoring undertaken by DEC, industry and local government in the lead-up to the development of the air quality monitoring program for the Goldfields residential area? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(3) Is the Department of Health conducting epidemiological studies alongside the suggested monitoring from the Department of Environment and Conservation—DEC—arising from this report? (4) What is the health department’s involvement with the monitoring undertaken by DEC, industry and local government in the lead-up to the development of the air quality monitoring program for the Goldfields residential area? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(4) What is the health department’s involvement with the monitoring undertaken by DEC, industry and local government in the lead-up to the development of the air quality monitoring program for the Goldfields residential area? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(1) No. (2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(2) The Department of Health has not received any results regarding medical tests of children in the Goldfields residential area. The Department of Health has not received the report from the Environmental Protection Authority. Comments regarding six times the acceptable reference range were made by the EPA, not the Department of Health; therefore, clarification should be sought from the EPA. (3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(3) No. The Department of Health was not consulted by the EPA when this recommendation was made. The Department of Health does not have any medical evidence to support an epidemiological investigation. (4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
(4) Department of Health involvement is limited to being notified of any exceedances of the dust—PM10—guideline.
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