Chemical policy reform urgently needed

Pollution Information Tasmania is calling for urgent chemical policy reform, in light of the revelations that chemical testing by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) has found pesticide contamination in five northern Tasmanian rivers.

“It is clear from the recent round of chemical testing results from DPIPWE, that there is a serious ongoing problem with pesticide contamination in some of Tasmania’s water catchments,” said Simon Branigan, Policy Coordinator for Environment Tasmania.

“This is further confirmation that current chemical policy regulations and associated testing regimes are failing to keep pesticides out of our water ways.”

“Any chemical policy reforms must include investigations of the source of chemical contamination events, particularly in our drinking water catchments,” said Simon Branigan.

Alison Bleaney, General Practitioner and Toxicology Researcher is also pushing for the government to safeguard community health and ensure the protection of water catchments from pesticide contamination. Government policies must include chemical policy reforms as they are critical to preventative health strategies.

“Current chemical use practices in the recreational, agricultural and forestry sectors, continues to risk causing pollution of our drinking water and harm to both ecosystem and human health – due to the residues leftover from the toxic cocktails of pesticides and chemicals,” said Alison Bleaney.

“I’m calling upon the government to ensure the safety of drinking water and the health of our children by protecting our water catchments, preventing water pollution and banning pesticides that adversely affect human and ecosystem health as they are proposing to do in the European Union,” said Alison Bleaney.

PIT is a community based network of groups and individuals working and campaigning on pollution issues and public health and environmental risks in Tasmania. For more information on water pollution issues and research see www.pollutioninformationtas.org.au

Dr Alison Bleaney, Simon Branigan