City Council probing effects of storage of toxic chemicals on workers, children

The effects of the storage of toxic chemicals in close proximity to city public health workers and near the city’s nursery school, day care, and health centre received the attention of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) yesterday at its statutory meeting.

According to a preliminary report presented by Councillor Khame Sharma yesterday, M&CC’s Chief Medical Officer of Public Health has reportedly began screening staff and conducting laboratory tests after vomiting was observed in some children, and some staff members reported suffering from headaches.

Concerns were previously raised at the Council level about workers of the Public Health and Vector Control Unit of the M&CC operating in a toxic environment, as chemicals were being stored in a room behind their office at Orange Walk and South Road. Also in the vicinity are the South Road Nursery School, the Day Care Centre and the Dorothy Bailey Health Centre.

According to Councillor Sharma’s report, among the chemicals found were two 45-gallon drums, one containing Jeyes fluid and the other, formalin; containers of dieseline reportedly used as larvaecide; a five-gallon container containing malathion, used in fogging exercises; several cleaning agents; and rodenticides. These are all stored in what was said to be a room 12x12 in dimensions.

The report stated that although the officers were relocated temporarily, the scent “penetrated the ceiling to the top flat,” where, along with the clinic operated by the department, the Albouystown medical clinic is temporarily being housed.

Sharma, who was tasked with providing guidelines to address the issue, presented a series of recommendations yesterday after visiting the site, including the use of Material Safety Data sheets, the provision of information and training on how to handle emergencies and protect against spillages, as well as a follow-up investigating of the Princes street location where the chemicals are procured from.

According to the report, several persons were consulted during the investigation, including M&CC’s Chief Medical Officer of Public Health and the Chief Environmental Officer.

The report has been submitted to the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) for action.