Sprott: Ministry Of Health Proposal For Dioxin Testing Futile
Dr Jim Sprott has described as futile a Ministry of Health proposal to carry out blood tests for dioxins on New Plymouth
residents who may have suffered exposure to dioxin sourced from the Ivon Watkins Dow chemical plant.
Chemicals of the dioxin type (known as "non-polar" compounds) are very soluble in fatty body tissue. However, they do
not accumulate in blood.
"The Ministry is quite wrong to propose blood tests for the residents," said Dr Sprott. "It is almost certain that the
tests will show nothing."
Dr Sprott points out that non-polar compounds accumulate in fatty tissue, notably the nerves. This would explain the
high incidence of multiple sclerosis (a nerve-related condition) among the residents. Furthermore, some chlorinated
compounds of the dioxin type have carcinogenic (cancer-causing) properties, and some can cause birth defects.
"Blood testing of the New Plymouth residents should not proceed," said Dr Sprott. "The results are likely to be highly
misleading. They could result in residents with valid claims losing the opportunity to pursue those claims."