From Macao Daily Times:
The Health Bureau (SS) has urged people who have lived, studied or worked around the Ka-Ho fly ash landfill between October 2006 and November 2010 to participate in a long-term epidemiological study.
SS officials presented the preliminary report of the 2011 Ka-Ho residents health check program to a concern group on Thursday, and stressed that experts deemed that based on the current information to hand, it could not be confirmed that some resident health problems were related to fly ash exposure.
However, the bureau said the health effects of fly ash may not appear in a short period of time and an academic institute in a neighbouring region will be commissioned to carry out an ‘in-depth’ epidemiological study according to the current preliminary report.
A database will also be created to collect health details of participants and to record Macau’s cancer registry and congenital malformation information.
As the study will be a long-term tracking programme, the SS has called on people who have lived, worked or studied within 800 metres from the fly ash landfill for three consecutive months or more between October 2006 and November 2010 to sign up for the program by telephoning 28700800 during office hours before May 18.
In addition, the bureau said attention was paid to the correlation between fly ash and cancer, adding that “the literature has already proved that Asian lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma is closely associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection”.
Treatment has been provided to patients identified in the health check program, the bureau added.
However, the fly ash concern group disagreed with the preliminary report and argued that the bureau’s conclusion that some residents health problems, including lung cancer and lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, were in fact not caused by fly ash was ‘not supported by sufficient medical evidence’.
The group has requested the SS to clarify and apologise.
The group said the report has made Ka-Ho residents doubt the professionalism of Macau’s health authority.
It suggested that an independent organisation be employed to review the analysis and also requested the bureau make special arrangements for the two people suffering from critical illness including sending them out of Macau for medical treatment.
The Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) said the new site’s environmental impact assessment report of the solidified fly ash landfill has been completed and will soon be analysed by a panel of Macau and mainland experts. The results are expected to be announced before the third quarter of this year, the bureau added.
Moreover, DSPA said closed-circuit televisions have been installed in the current fly ash disposal site under trial operation.
A consulting firm will be commissioned this year to conduct a comprehensive assessment on Macau’s environmental infrastructure and facilities, the bureau added.
The Health Bureau (SS) has urged people who have lived, studied or worked around the Ka-Ho fly ash landfill between October 2006 and November 2010 to participate in a long-term epidemiological study.
SS officials presented the preliminary report of the 2011 Ka-Ho residents health check program to a concern group on Thursday, and stressed that experts deemed that based on the current information to hand, it could not be confirmed that some resident health problems were related to fly ash exposure.
However, the bureau said the health effects of fly ash may not appear in a short period of time and an academic institute in a neighbouring region will be commissioned to carry out an ‘in-depth’ epidemiological study according to the current preliminary report.
A database will also be created to collect health details of participants and to record Macau’s cancer registry and congenital malformation information.
As the study will be a long-term tracking programme, the SS has called on people who have lived, worked or studied within 800 metres from the fly ash landfill for three consecutive months or more between October 2006 and November 2010 to sign up for the program by telephoning 28700800 during office hours before May 18.
In addition, the bureau said attention was paid to the correlation between fly ash and cancer, adding that “the literature has already proved that Asian lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma is closely associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection”.
Treatment has been provided to patients identified in the health check program, the bureau added.
However, the fly ash concern group disagreed with the preliminary report and argued that the bureau’s conclusion that some residents health problems, including lung cancer and lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, were in fact not caused by fly ash was ‘not supported by sufficient medical evidence’.
The group has requested the SS to clarify and apologise.
The group said the report has made Ka-Ho residents doubt the professionalism of Macau’s health authority.
It suggested that an independent organisation be employed to review the analysis and also requested the bureau make special arrangements for the two people suffering from critical illness including sending them out of Macau for medical treatment.
The Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) said the new site’s environmental impact assessment report of the solidified fly ash landfill has been completed and will soon be analysed by a panel of Macau and mainland experts. The results are expected to be announced before the third quarter of this year, the bureau added.
Moreover, DSPA said closed-circuit televisions have been installed in the current fly ash disposal site under trial operation.
A consulting firm will be commissioned this year to conduct a comprehensive assessment on Macau’s environmental infrastructure and facilities, the bureau added.
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