Press Releases

Government releases latest blood lead level review results of citizens affected by lead in drinking water incident

The Government today (January 20) released the latest blood lead level review results of citizens affected by the lead in drinking water incident.

According to established measures under the care plan, the Hospital Authority will continue to monitor the blood lead levels of citizens whose blood lead levels were found to be borderline raised in the first blood test. For children aged below 18 and lactating women, blood lead level testing will be conducted in three months' time, and repeated according to clinical assessment, until their blood lead levels return to normal. For pregnant women, they 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 150 citizens have been reviewed in batches. The latest batch of test results showed that the blood lead levels of 11 citizens have returned to normal.

Members of the public may call the Department of Health's (DH) 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 5 864 appointments for blood testing and the hotline had received 7 925 enquiries.

Ends/Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:20

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