Page 1231 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 2012
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
(2) Is the Government aware of any reported human deaths or life threatening illness caused by primary or secondary contact with water that is contaminated by blue-green-algae.
(3) What risk assessment has the Government undertaken of the potential and likely health affects at the concentrations which correspond to the medium, high and extreme alert levels outlined in the action plan in the ACT Health Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality.
(4) Is blue-green algae the most significant health risk to lake users that the Government has identified, or are there other risks; if so, what are those other risks.
(5) When were the ACT Health Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality most recently updated and are there any future plans to review the guidelines.
(6) How does the Government make information about water quality and exposure risks available to the public.
Ms Gallagher: I am advised that the answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) There are many scientific publications on the adverse health effects of blue-green algae. Blue green algae (cyanobacteria) are bacteria that grow in wide variety of environments, notably in fresh water. The human health effects are caused mainly by toxins that are produced by these bacteria. These toxins include neurotoxins (that can affect the nervous system), hepatotoxins (that can affect the liver) and endotoxins (that are contact irritants and can cause dermatitis and conjunctivitis). The health effects due to cyanobacterial toxins can vary according to the type of toxin, the amount of toxin that the person is exposed to and the type of water related exposure (drinking, inhalation, skin contact etc.). The World Health Organisation (WHO) - http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/en/ - and the US Centres for Disease Control - http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/hab/default.htm - have published guidelines and other documents that have synthesised the scientific evidence on cyanobacteria.
(2) There has been a human fatality in the United States of America that has been attributed to recreational exposure to cyanobacteria. There are several studies reporting a range of illnesses from contact with water contaminated by toxic blue-green algae. These vary from allergic reactions, gastrointestinal dieases (acute severe gastroenteritis including diarrhoea and vomiting or liver toxicity) to respiratory disease (pneumonia or hay fever like symptoms).
(3) The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) produces national guidelines on recreational water quality based on a preventative risk management approach - http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines/publications/eh7. The ACT guidelines are based on the national guidelines as well as the WHO guidelines and include the most recent research. The Health Protection Service assessed the risks of blue-green algae when developing the ACT Health Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality and also reviewed the NHMRC and the WHO guideline alert levels. This is why the ACT guidelines incorporate alert levels from both the NHMRC as well as from the WHO.
(4) Blue-green algae is not the only health risk to lake users, there are a number of other hazards including physical hazards, sun, heat and cold, chemical and microbial hazards. I refer you the NHMRC Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video