Green Party Health Spokesperson Sue Kedgley today called on the Health Minister to begin a comprehensive investigation
of dioxin levels in soil in residential areas around the Dow plant in New Plymouth, as requested by the Taranaki
Regional Council.
Ms Kedgley said she agreed with the Taranaki Regional Council that blood serum testing of residents alone should not be
relied upon as the sole measure to ascertain the health risks to residents.
She said soil testing was essential to assess past and present exposure of residents to dioxin and to ascertain the
health risks to residents.
"This is a crucial environmental health issue. We need to be sure that residents are not being exposed to levels of
dioxin which would put their health at risk," she said.
"We also need to establish whether the high rates of cancers and reproductive problems in the area are linked to high
levels of dioxin contamination.
"I agree with the Taranaki Regional Council that it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health to ensure these
tests are carried out, given that the dioxins were discharged from the plant at a time when the Ministry was
resposnsible for those discharges," said Ms Kedgley.
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