Inquiry questions long term effects on health of Camelford incident
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《英国医生杂志》
It is unlikely that the chemicals involved in the 1988 Camelford water contamination incident in Cornwall caused any long term effects on health, says a report published last week.
The report, by a subgroup of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, a scientific committee that advises the Food Standards Agency and the Department of Health, says it found no conclusive link between the incident and the chronic symptoms and diseases reported.
However, the subgroup has recommended further work on the effects of the contaminants on neurological health, the effects on the development of children aged less than 1 year old at the time of the incident, and the incidence of diseased joints among people in the affected area.
The incident occurred when a contractor dumped 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate directly into the water supply at the Lowermoor plant operated by South West Water. The plant was an unstaffed water treatment facility, and the contractor was a relief driver unfamiliar with the plant抯 layout and delivery procedures.
Over the following months more than 400 of the town抯 residents complained of a range of symptoms, including skin rashes, arthritic pains, sore throats, loss of memory, and general exhaustion.
In two earlier reports, delivered in 1989 and 1991, an advisory group appointed by the government concluded that there was no convincing evidence that harmful accumulation of aluminium had occurred or that the toxic effects of the contaminated water had resulted in a greater prevalence of ill health. The reports also stated that although the incident and subsequent events had led to real suffering in the community, this was due to anxiety rather than direct health effects, a conclusion that angered many residents.
In 1999 a paper in the BMJ concluded that damage to cerebral function in people who were exposed to the contaminated water was not due to anxiety. However, subsequent correspondence questioned the design of the study, which included people affected by the contamination and used their relatives as controls (BMJ 1999;319:807-11).
Paul Tyler, MP for North Cornwall, said: "After 16 and a half years, we at long last have the most thorough analysis of the incident. But I feel that people were much more concerned with the cover up than the actual incident itself. I fear that the trail has now gone very cold, due to the failure of all authorities, including the health authority, to act immediately."(London Kunal Khanna)
The report, by a subgroup of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, a scientific committee that advises the Food Standards Agency and the Department of Health, says it found no conclusive link between the incident and the chronic symptoms and diseases reported.
However, the subgroup has recommended further work on the effects of the contaminants on neurological health, the effects on the development of children aged less than 1 year old at the time of the incident, and the incidence of diseased joints among people in the affected area.
The incident occurred when a contractor dumped 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate directly into the water supply at the Lowermoor plant operated by South West Water. The plant was an unstaffed water treatment facility, and the contractor was a relief driver unfamiliar with the plant抯 layout and delivery procedures.
Over the following months more than 400 of the town抯 residents complained of a range of symptoms, including skin rashes, arthritic pains, sore throats, loss of memory, and general exhaustion.
In two earlier reports, delivered in 1989 and 1991, an advisory group appointed by the government concluded that there was no convincing evidence that harmful accumulation of aluminium had occurred or that the toxic effects of the contaminated water had resulted in a greater prevalence of ill health. The reports also stated that although the incident and subsequent events had led to real suffering in the community, this was due to anxiety rather than direct health effects, a conclusion that angered many residents.
In 1999 a paper in the BMJ concluded that damage to cerebral function in people who were exposed to the contaminated water was not due to anxiety. However, subsequent correspondence questioned the design of the study, which included people affected by the contamination and used their relatives as controls (BMJ 1999;319:807-11).
Paul Tyler, MP for North Cornwall, said: "After 16 and a half years, we at long last have the most thorough analysis of the incident. But I feel that people were much more concerned with the cover up than the actual incident itself. I fear that the trail has now gone very cold, due to the failure of all authorities, including the health authority, to act immediately."(London Kunal Khanna)