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Report reveals shocking level of chemicals – New Zealand

5:37 PM Saturday Mar 16, 2013

New Zealand Herald

The Green Party says a Customs Service report reveals a shocking level of dangerous chemicals present in our shipping containers, endangering port workers and nearby communities.

Biosecurity and customs spokesperson Steffan Browning says the report – released under the Official Information Act – shows 90 per cent of shipping containers sampled had dangerous chemicals, including methyl bromide in the air at 18 per cent above safe levels.

He says it’s difficult to accept the Customs Services claim that they have fixed this problem, given that they kept this damning report from the public.

Mr Browning says its very poor on Customs’ part not to let those affected know.

He says it’s another example where trade imperatives are placed above the health and safety of New Zealand workers and communities.

– Newstalk ZB

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10871669

And from the Greenpeace site this…

Saturday, 16 Mar 2013 | Press Release

“….. “The dangerous levels of methyl bromide identified at ports in containers and from log fumigations, is a particular concern. A neurotoxin, methyl bromide gas, has been linked with motor neurone disease and cancers, and is colourless, tasteless, and odourless, making it impossible for people to know if they are in contact with it. It also depletes the ozone layer.

“Port workers and nearby communities do not deserve exposure to toxic fumigant gases. We need to urgently put in place procedures to recapture methyl bromide from shipping containers and log fumigations, rather than just releasing it into the air we breathe.

“Recapture of methyl bromide fumigant is used at Port Nelson, following an Environment Court air quality case following the deaths of several port workers there from motor neurone disease.

“It is difficult to accept the Customs Service’s claim that they have fixed this issue, given that they kept this damning report from the public. I call on the Customs Service to release all data on the levels of toxic fumigants in shipping containers and to ensure that methyl bromide recapture is available at our ports,” said Mr Browning……”

March 16, 2013 - Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized