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The Government today (November 19) released the latest blood test results of citizens affected by the lead in drinking water incident.
Among the latest batch of 172 samples, 171 are from kindergarten children while one is from a public estate resident, all of whom show normal blood lead levels. Details of the blood tests are in the Annex.
Taking reference from medical literature as well as local and overseas experience, the Hospital Authority (HA) and the Department of Health (DH) have derived the reference values of blood lead levels and corresponding actions to be taken in various healthcare settings.
According to the established measures, the DH will perform lead exposure assessments for all citizens with borderline raised blood lead levels, and will arrange preliminary developmental assessments if they are children aged under 12. The HA will arrange a health evaluation and follow-up for citizens with borderline raised blood lead levels who are children aged 12 or above, adults, pregnant women or lactating women, and arrange ongoing blood lead level monitoring for all citizens with borderline raised blood lead levels.
As regards citizens whose blood lead levels were found to be borderline raised, the 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 repeat according to clinical assessment, until their blood lead levels return to normal. Pregnant women will receive follow-up blood tests until their blood lead levels return to normal.
As of today, the blood lead levels of a total of 103 citizens have been reviewed. Among the latest batch of three samples, one shows normal blood lead levels. The blood lead levels of two citizens, a child and a pregnant woman, are still on the borderline raised level. Their blood lead levels in the review are in the range of 6.13 to 7.60 micrograms per decilitre. The DH will inform the citizens concerned of the test results in the review. The HA will continue to follow up on the above citizens whose blood lead levels were found to be borderline raised in the review, and will undertake clinical interventions 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 arranged 5 854 appointments for blood testing and DH's hotline received 7 876 telephone enquiries.
Ends/Thursday, November 19, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:19
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