Exposure to strong odors can and does cause physical health effects.
Exposure to hydrogen sulfide, that's a gas which is a component of the odor arising from the damaged treatment
plant and oxidation ponds can cause nausea, tearing of the eyes and headaches at relatively low conentrations.
It can also worsen symptoms in people who are asthmatic and cause sleep disturbance.
Even if those exposed to the odor don't experience physical health effects continued
exposure to unpleasant or nasty, noxious odors can still have a really adverse effect on people's
mental well-being particularly when they've got limited or no ability to avoid ongoing exposure.
The health effects will be expected to resolve when the production of the odor is reduced back to the pre-fire levels
a result of the measures that are being taken by the City Council.
At the concentrations that have been measured so far it's very unlikely that there will be any long-term health effects
from exposure to hydrogen sulfide. However it's important to recognize that many residents are
still experiencing significant distress and they will continue to do so while the odor persists.
Yes and so are people with pre-existing conditions like asthma and older people but for different reasons.
Children are smaller so for every any given level of exposure they risk the dose that they receive
is higher than for a larger adult. Both children and adults with asthma are susceptible to the
irritant effects of hydrogen sulfide on their airways which can provoke an asthma attack.
Older people are also potentially more susceptible because they can have other respiratory conditions.
It's important to know that the health and environmental standards for exposure to pollutants like
hydrogen sulfide are set with a margin of safety to account for these variations in susceptibility
between adults and children and those with pre-existing conditions.
Hydrogen sulfide can be smelt at very low concentrations, as low as 0.01 parts per million.
The smell becomes progressively more obvious and offensive as the concentration
rises and over three parts three to five parts per million most people would find it offensive.
That's also the range in between the .01 and the five where people might
experience the kind of health effects I've already talked about like nausea
um feeling headachy or having sleep disturbance or exacerbations of your asthma.
We've been measuring and using as a reference level for the hydrogen sulfide
measurements in the environment out east a level of 0.03 parts per million as a reference level
on the basis that if the levels are mostly under that then we would expect there to be very few
serious or long-term effects from exposure. In our measurements so far we've only had we've had only
very few times when the levels in the environment exceeded that level and usually only briefly. The
highest measured level that we've seen at any of the monitors is one is 0.1 parts per million
When we look at the kinds of levels where we might see more serious or permanent health effects
from exposure to hydrogen sulfide those are many
thousands of times higher than the highest level that's been measured around the plant.
Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury. Our advice is that people experiencing any any health issues as
a result of the odor coming from the damage treatment plant or oxidation
ponds should seek medical advice from their GP or healthcare provider.
There's some good information online which tells you how to go about it. You can visit the CDHB's website, look in your
health how to find and enroll with a doctor. To enroll you need to choose a general practice
that's accepting new patients and you can contact practices to check their current situation because
some do have their books closed but others are accepting new enrollments. If the practice
you contact is accepting new patients then you'll need to complete and sign a form which the doctor,
nurse or the medical center staff receptionist will give to you that form will require you to
provide some personal details like your address, name, age, date of birth. For a list of general
practices in Christchurch you can contact one of the three primary health organizations in our area
Pegasus Health on 033791739, Christchurch PHO on 0800-746-242
or Waitaha Primary Health 0800 800-743
I f you have difficulty getting access to a GP you can get help from the Pegasus Partnership
Community Workers. They can help you with enrollment, support you and provide you with
a voucher for your next appointment if your health is being affected by the wastewater
treatment plant stench. If you live in Bromley or the surrounding areas and
you or your family are experiencing issues relating to the wastewater treatment plant
stench you can contact Maureen on O220103296
Yes it is okay to eat veggies and fruit from your garden. Hydrogen sulfide is a gas so it
leaves no residue on the plants. It's always a good idea to wash homegrown produce before eating it.