A neurology expert has told the Commission of Inquiry into the tainted water scandal that human blood should not contain any lead at all.
Professor David Bellinger, from Harvard University’s medical school, said even a low level of 5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood could damage the central nervous system. He is one of the experts invited by the commission to give evidence.
Tests carried out by the government had found more than 100 children and women exceeded that level.
The report compiled by Bellinger to the commission also found that lead in drinking water was to blame for their lead exposure, as the blood-lead concentrations of 24 residents dropped about 30 percent after they stopped drinking lead-tainted water.
The tainted water scandal first came to light in July when tap water at a public housing estate was found to have lead above safe levels. It was later revealed that ten more estates have the same problem. Officials are also testing water in kindergartens across the city after some schools reported finding the heavy metal in their water.
Government task forces under the Water Supplies Department and the Housing Department had earlier both blamed soldering material in the pipes as the source of excessive lead in water.
Professor David Bellinger, from Harvard University’s medical school, said even a low level of 5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood could damage the central nervous system. He is one of the experts invited by the commission to give evidence.
Tests carried out by the government had found more than 100 children and women exceeded that level.
The report compiled by Bellinger to the commission also found that lead in drinking water was to blame for their lead exposure, as the blood-lead concentrations of 24 residents dropped about 30 percent after they stopped drinking lead-tainted water.
The tainted water scandal first came to light in July when tap water at a public housing estate was found to have lead above safe levels. It was later revealed that ten more estates have the same problem. Officials are also testing water in kindergartens across the city after some schools reported finding the heavy metal in their water.
Government task forces under the Water Supplies Department and the Housing Department had earlier both blamed soldering material in the pipes as the source of excessive lead in water.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1227669-20151204.htm
