Press Releases
Government releases latest blood test results of citizens affected by lead in drinking water incident
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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Annex