HSE REFUSES TO GIVE HEALTH ASSURANCES OVER LEAD CONTAMINATION

Date Published: 25-Sep-2008

The Director of Public Health with the HSE is refusing to give full health assurances to households with lead contaminated water supplies. Dr Diarmuid Donovan says more testing needs to be carried out before he can give a full assurance that the health of the public hasn't been damaged. The first clinics testing the blood levels of affected residents are being held today at UHG.Dr Donovan also revealed the HSE is being advised on the crisis by the Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division of the English Health Protection Agency. Speaking to Keith Finnegan, Dr Donovan warned correcting the problem could take longer than last year's Chryptosporidium crisisMeanwhile city manager Joe McGrath says the council first detected high levels of lead in one house last April, and in another house in July. He notified the EPA and the HSE in late July and the HSE began it's own investigations in August. Joe McGrath denies there was a cover-up on the part of the city council