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 Notice to Mona Vale ResidentsNSW Health Media Release Friday July 27, 2007 Following expert advice from NSW Health and the Department of Environment & Climate Change, Pittwater Council has instructed Unomedical Pty Ltd, 11 – 17 Wilmette Place, Mona Vale to cease the emission of the chemical Ethylene Oxide until acceptable levels supported by appropriate testing and monitoring, can be achieved. Unomedical Pty Ltd produces medical products that require sterilization. The company uses a gas called Ethylene Oxide to sterilize products and discharges some of the gas used in the process into the atmosphere. Following consultation with the company, government agencies have recently become aware that local residents may have been exposed to this gas. The order to the company to cease the emission of Ethylene Oxide is a precautionary measure to protect public health. Please find attached a Question and Answer sheet that provides you with detailed information about the current situation. Based upon expert advice, NSW Health believes that local residents are highly unlikely to experience any immediate health effects from breathing air with the levels of Ethylene Oxide estimated to have been caused through the discharge of the gas. NSW Health is waiting further expert advice concerning the risk of delayed health effects, if any. The Department of Environment and Climate Change will be reviewing approval processes, state regulations and guidance materials for councils, and any other regulatory issues. NSW Health will update the community with new information as it becomes available. The Question and Answer Sheet also provides contact telephone numbers for NSW Health, the Department of Environment & Climate Change and Pittwater Council should you require further information. Dr Michael StaffPublic Health Physician Northern Sydney Central Coast Public Health Unit Joe Woodward Executive Director, Operations Department of Environment and Climate Change |
