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The Government today (October 28) released the review results of blood lead levels for citizens affected by the lead in drinking water incident.
As regards citizens whose blood lead levels have been found to be borderline raised, the Hospital Authority (HA) has, according to established measures under the care plan, continued to monitor their blood lead levels after the first blood test. For children aged below 18 and lactating women, blood lead level testing would be conducted in three months' time, and repeated according to clinical assessment, until their blood lead levels return to normal. For pregnant women, blood lead level testing will be conducted monthly, until their blood lead levels return to normal or they have delivered, whichever is later.
As of today, the blood lead levels of a total of 101 citizens have been reviewed. Among the latest batch of 72 samples, 43 (60 per cent) show normal blood lead levels. The blood lead levels of 29 citizens are still on a borderline raised level. Among them, there are 28 children and one lactating woman. Their blood lead levels in the review are in the range of 5.02 to 27.32 micrograms per decilitre. The Department of Health (DH) will, as soon as possible, inform the citizens concerned of the test results in the review and conduct further investigation into their lead exposure. The HA will follow up on the above citizens and carry out clinical intervention as appropriate.
Members of the public may call the DH's hotline (2125 1122) regarding lead and its health effects. Appointments for blood tests for those who belong to the more easily affected groups and are living in affected public rental housing estates can also be made by calling the hotline.
As at 5pm today, the DH had arranged 5,664 appointments for blood testing and the DH's hotline had received 7,814 telephone enquiries.
Ends/Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:31
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