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The testing of drinking water from a further 38 kindergartens has been completed. Testing results indicated that the lead content in one of the 76 drinking water samples taken was 13 micrograms per litre, which exceeded the provisional guideline value for lead of 10mcg per litre recommended in the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality. The remaining 75 drinking water samples met the WHO standard, a spokesman for the Education Bureau (EDB) said today (September 21). The kindergartens are listed in the Annex.
According to the EDB spokesman, three drinking water samples were taken from Yan Chai Hospital Kwok Chi Leung Kindergarten by the Water Supplies Department on September 17. The lead content in two drinking water samples taken from water taps in the kitchen met the WHO standard, while the remaining drinking water sample taken from the tap of a boiler in the same kitchen was found to exceed the WHO standard.
The Department of Health (DH) and the Hospital Authority (HA) have, after reviewing the relevant literature and research from local medical sectors and overseas health associations, defined the groups which are more easily affected by lead as children aged below 6, pregnant women and lactating women. Due to the limited blood testing capacity of the HA, the Government will focus on pupils currently attending the affected kindergartens and relevant teaching staff who are more easily affected by lead, i.e. pregnant women and lactating women, for arranging blood taking and blood lead testing.
According to the kindergarten concerned, the water in the boiler was used for drinking by both staff and students. The DH will make arrangements for 122 students to have blood taken.
The EDB has issued a letter to inform the kindergarten concerned about the water testing results and requesting the school to inform the parents and staff concerned. The EDB has also provided relevant information and blood test arrangements for the kindergarten concerned for dissemination to the students' parents and staff. The kindergarten will collate parental consents and more for the EDB's follow-up. The EDB will liaise closely with the kindergarten in respect of organising the visit for blood taking on the day of appointment, and will provide assistance as appropriate.
When blood test results are available from the HA, the DH will inform those persons who have received blood tests or their parents via the kindergartens. Those with a blood lead level exceeding the reference value will be informed of the relevant follow-up by phone. The DH will take appropriate action, including conducting lead exposure assessments for students and making arrangements for them to undergo preliminary developmental assessment. For female staff who are pregnant or lactating, the HA will follow up with them if their blood lead level is above the reference value. Anyone with an elevated blood lead level will have repeated blood tests in a specified period of time.
Up to September 18, the Water Supplies Department had assisted the EDB to take a total of 195 drinking water samples from 94 kindergartens. One sample each from the boilers of two kindergartens exceeded the WHO standard. The remaining 193 drinking water samples from 92 kindergartens met the WHO standard. The latest test results have been uploaded to the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/news011/Test_Results_of_Water_Samples_en.pdf) and updates will be made when more test results are available.
Ends/Monday, September 21, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:46
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