Nickel Toxicology Expert tells Esperance Public Forum Nickel Exports Do Not Pose a Health Risk
February 8, 2009-- The public information forum staged at Esperance by the State Government today was told that nickel exports through the port do not pose a health risk for the town’s residents.
Dr Hudson Bates, Executive Director of the Nickel Producers’ Environmental Research Association, said: “Based on the available data there have been no health issues attributable to nickel handling in Esperance.”
Recognised as one of the world’s pre-eminent nickel toxicology experts, Dr Bates said that nickel levels in drinking water in Esperance do not pose a risk to health based on comparisons to international standards.
“Every day we ingest nickel in some form. It’s an essential part of our food chain and occurs naturally in the environment to which we are exposed.” Dr Bates said.
He said the new operating licence emission standards at the port of Esperance are completely consistent with air target values for nickel recently established in the EU and California. The handling protocols for the loading of nickel at Esperance, coupled with the air and dust monitoring program, impose a world class level of compliance.
Dr Bates travelled to Esperance as part of the high-level group from the Nickel Institute, which is a not-for-profit organisation representing producers responsible for more than 90 per cent of the world’s annual nickel output. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada the Institute has offices in Brussels, Belgium and Brisbane.
The Nickel Institute’s goals include the development of the safe uses of nickel. It funds scientific research programs with academic institutions around the globe which examine the role of nickel in human health and the environment.
“The people of Esperance have a right to question the emissions from the port and we want to make sure the health and safety standards in Esperance protect the residents,” Dr Bates said.
“The industry supports the addition of more monitoring sites through the townsite. With the data currently being collected, these additional monitors will allow an accurate determination of air exposure to nickel from all sources on a continuous basis. Correlation of measurements with loading operations or natural contributors to air nickel levels such as brush fires will allow for an ongoing appraisal of the potential for health impacts in Esperance.
“The data currently available are very reassuring in that they demonstrate that there is no added health risk. Monitoring so far has not shown airborne nickel levels above limits that would indicate that toxicity is likely to occur. The governments use of a target value well below the thresholds for toxicity allows for corrective actions to be taken before health problems might or could appear.”
President of the Nickel Institute Stephen Barnett, who also attended the Esperance forum, said: “The nickel industry supports the State Government’s commitment to new infrastructure upgrades at the port which will even further minimise the possible risk of any dust emissions.
But the industry hasn't been sitting on its hands waiting for this work to happen. Producers have spent over $10 million on improved supply chain handling. This has seen Esperance setting new world’s best standards for transporting and handling nickel concentrates.”
“We are committed to actively engaging with the Esperance community on an ongoing basis. Nickel has been exported from Esperance for over 40 years – and we expect that to continue for another 40 or 50 years. We cannot do that on a sustainable basis without the support of the community.”
“The nickel industry aspires to zero harm – not just for its employees but also the communities in which it operates.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Richard Matheson
E-mail:rjm@assda.asn.au
Tel: 0732200722
Head Office: 55 University Avenue, Suite 1801,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 3S6
Tel: +1 (416) 591 7999 Fax: +1 (416) 591 7987
Australian Office: Level 15, 215 Adelaide St, Brisbane Qld 4000
Tel: +61 7 3220 0722 Fax: +61 7 3220 0733
