Press Releases
Government releases latest blood test results of citizens affected by lead in drinking water incident
The Government today (November 25) released the latest blood test results of
citizens affected by the lead in drinking water incident.
Among the latest batch of seven samples, six are from kindergarten children
and one is from a public estate resident, and all 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
assessment for all citizens with borderline raised blood lead levels, and
will arrange preliminary developmental assessment if they are children aged
under 12. The HA will arrange 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 those persons with borderline raised blood lead levels.
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 had arranged 5,854 appointments for blood testing
and the DH's hotline had received 7,883 telephone enquiries.
Ends/Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:30
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Annex: Test results of blood lead level of citizens affected by lead in
drinking water incidents