Xstrata in denial over necrotising fasciitis

There has been much interest of late about the prevalence of necrotising fasciitis in the Gulf of Carpentaria. A report in the Journal of Infection by A Ralph and BJ Currie from the Menzies School of Health in Darwin reported on 4 cases of infection.

The media from that time can be found under blog category necrotising-fasciitis.

The article in question makes interesting reading. The authors made a speculative link between levels of heavy metals and the incidence of necrotising fasciitis. What is suprising is the lengths Xstrata went to in countering what the authors, in an specialised journal, acknowledged was a speculative link . Xstrata were quick to say to say it wasn’t related to their existing mine on the McArthur River; but is this a case of were there is smoke there is fire?

Xstrata continue to deny any pollution despite their own figures showing 2.5 times more heavy metals immediately downstream of the mine compared to levels in the river above the mine. Ralph and Currie’s response to Xstrata’s letter clearly identifies that

Therefore even assuming that such levels reflect natural variation in a metal rich environment, MRM’s statement in their letter that “…zinc, lead and copper levels recorded in the McArthur River are within the acceptable range under ANZECC Water Quality Guidelines” does seem to contradict their monitoring data for that period.

Unfortunately the monitoring has been so inadequate, that the question of whether pollution from the mine is affecting the incidence and/or severity of necrotising fasciitis, can neither be proven or disproven.

Even more unfortunate is the unwillingness of Xstrata and the NT Government to investigate this properly.

The original article, Xstrata’s response and the authors response can be found below

Vibrio vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus necrotising fasciitis in fishermen visiting an estuarine tropical northern Australia location

Xstrata’s response to the Journal of Infection 

Authors reply to Xstrata’s comment on “Vibrio…

River lead pollution at toxic levels

more on Xstrata’s Mt Isa Activities - from the Australian

LEAD pollution in popular swimming areas along Mt Isa’s Leichhardt River is hundreds of times higher than government limits. Concentrations of dissolved copper, zinc and cadmium, as well as levels of disease-causing bacteria, also exceed guidelines during the wet season, when the river and its tributaries are flushed by monsoonal rains.
Even in the dry season — when many of the streams and pools dry up — long-lasting water holes surpass heavy-metal and bacterial levels, which automatically trigger an investigation under the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) guidelines for aquatic systems.

“Some of the highest values we have come from a pool adjacent to a caravan park, where the kiddies swim,” said environmental scientist Mark Taylor of Sydney’s Macquarie University.

In that pool — sampled last January, during the wet season — lead concentrations were 2080 micrograms per litre.

The maximum ANZECC limit is 9.4mcg/L. Copper was 2600mcg/L (ANZECC limit: 2.5mcg/L); cadmium, 50 mcg/L (0.9mcg/L); and zinc, 4400mcg/L (31mcg/L).

The discovery raises public-health issues because children could easily ingest the contaminates. Pets and native animals also drink from the pools.

Studies in the US and Australia have linked blood lead levels as low as 10mcg per decilitre (one-tenth of a litre) to intellectual and behavioural difficulties in kids.

The discovery of heavy metal and bacterial contamination in the pools follows an earlier analysis of soil and dust in and around Mt Isa, also conducted by Dr Taylor and his colleagues.

As The Australian revealed last month, that study uncovered significant pollution with heavy metals, including lead, zinc and copper.

At one residential site lead levels were 33 times higher than federal guidelines.

Since The Australian’s report, Swiss mining giant Xstrata, owner of the Mt Isa Mine, told a residents’ meeting it would undertake a new environmental study.

But the environment manager for Xstrata North Queensland, environmental engineer Ed Turley, denied the announcement followed public concern over the findings.

“It had nothing to do with Dr Taylor’s study,” he said.

Mr Turley said the study had been discussed with the Environmental Protection Agency last year and was part of the mine’s environmental monitoring. It would complement that done by Dr Taylor’s group.

Mr Turley chose not to comment on the new water study until he had seen the data.

Dr Taylor will present the findings this week during the American Association of Geographers’ annual meeting in San Francisco. According to Dr Taylor, little of the new-found contamination came from Xstrata’s mining practices.

Most of the heavy metals came from erosion of “historical” sources such as old slag heaps or tailings ponds, he said.

Dr Taylor suspected recent “accidental releases” from the mine made a small contribution.

He suggested the bacterial and nutrient contamination might have come from leaking urban and industrial pipes, along with runoff from horse paddocks irrigated by the sewage recycling scheme.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au

Xstrata commits to new Mt Isa study - nothing for McArthur River

This is great news for the people of Mt Isa. Lets hope Xstrata actually releases the study.

Maybe Steve de Kruijff could come over to the Northern Territory and undertake a new environmental study for the McArthur River. It doesn’t seem that the current McArthur River Mines management know what ‘independent academics’ or ‘keep[ing] up with community expectations’ is, let alone commissioning and releasing a world class study.

Do we need more ‘intense media scrutiny’ in the NT?

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From the ABC

Swiss mining giant Xstrata will undertake a new environmental study in Mount Isa, in north-west Queensland, after intense media scrutiny over high lead levels in the soil.

Forty residents attended a public meeting last night to hear Xstrata’s response to a new scientific study showing lead levels up to 30 times higher than federal guidelines.

The meeting was told the company had several programs to limit environmental impacts, such as the use of radar to control emissions.

Xstrata’s Steve de Kruijff says a project team will now be formed to assess the overall condition of Mount Isa’s environment.

“We have engaged an independent academic who is a world class toxicologist and we plan to use him as part of our smelter project team to develop a long-term emissions strategy to ensure that we keep up with community expectations, to make sure that we’re ahead of community expectations,” he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1878458.htm

Xstrata plays down lead level study fears

Same company, same response as McArthur River

Step 1, don’t release critical information to the public

Step 2,play down event, ie its not really ‘that’ harmful

Step 3,critcise anyone who dares to raise concerns

Step 4, blame it on background levels of heavy metals (repeat step 1)

Step 5, get pro-business lobby/government to talk to the media, emphasisingthe key message - ie minimalising risks to environment/human health and to talk about the need for industry…

Step 6, find a new site, a new river, a new population and do it all over again

Xstrata used the same method for McArthur River and the NT Government played their role, despite serious environmental and human health concerns.

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from the ABC -Swiss mining giant Xstrata has dismissed concerns over a new report that shows high lead levels in Mount Isa, in north-west Queensland, saying lead already occurs naturally in the soil.

Dr Mark Taylor from Macquarie University in Sydney has released the results of a study that shows soil lead levels are 30 times above federal guidelines.

But Xstrata spokesman Ed Turley says academic surveys should include information on natural formations. “There’s already extensive natural sources of heavy metals in Mount Isa due to the levels of natural mineralisation,” he said.

While Xstrata says the new data does not take into account the high level of natural mineralisation in the soil, Dr Taylor says he has been unable to get access to the company’s in-house research.

“So I rang up the mine and asked for some of their information - that really didn’t get me very far,” he said.

fullstory from the ABC…

Xstrata, Mt Isa, children have elevated lead levels

More on Xstrata’s record on heavy metal pollution…

The director of Townsville’s Environmental Health Unit says one in 10 children from Mount Isa, in north-west Queensland, tested for lead, have shown marginally elevated levels in their blood.

Dr John Piisanen says 185 children aged one to four have been tested since last December with 18 returning positive tests.

Environmental samples taken around the area show lead levels are more than 30 times above federal health guidelines.

Dr Piisanen says the next step is to find out how the children were exposed.

“We’ve used as a benchmark the world health guideline of 10 micrograms per decilitre and 18 children have gone over that, none of them are over 20 and it hasn’t shown any alarming contamination,” he said.

“What it’s shown is that there’s a need to case manage those 18 kids and find out where their exposures may have been and negate those exposures.”

full story from the ABC…