Chemical cocktail continues to contaminate Carlton, Duck Rivers

The Tasmanian Greens today said that concerns regarding ongoing detection of pesticides, including triazines, in the states’ waterways had escalated due to chemical contamination of estuarine waters being reported.
Greens Water spokesperson Tim Morris MP said in the recent 23 river testings, waterways such as Carlton, St Pauls, and Duck Rivers have all shown signs of contamination from chemicals like MCPA, a phenoxy herbicide readily used because it is cheap, the fungicide Metalaxyl and the high toxicity triazine, Cyanazine.

“Of grave concern is the fact that these latest tests indicate pesticide contamination of our estuarine environment has occurred at the Carlton River near Dodges Ferry. This could affect not only the health of local residents, but health of fish, which studies have shown the effects of triazines on the reproduction systems in fish,” Mr Morris said.

“The Greens, once again, have to defend the natural waterways in Tasmania which continue to be poisoned by triazine chemicals, which are dangerous, toxic and potentially carcinogenic compounds which can affect local communities and ecosystems.”

“These latest chemical detections in Tasmanian rivers, including the Duck, St Pauls and Carlton Rivers, strengthens calls for triazine chemicals, labelled as ‘dangerous carcinogens’, to be banned, as the writing has been on the wall for these chemicals for some times given community, health and environmental concerns.”

“The Department’s own research has confirmed that these chemicals remain in the environment twice as long in cooler environments than previously acknowledged, so it is quite clear that they have no place in Tasmania.”
“Tasmanians are incredibly concerned about the regular detection of toxic chemicals in drinking water supplies across the state, and the Tasmanian Toxic Network is proof of that concern.”

“It is now time, for the Labor and Liberal parties, to join with the Greens, and support a ban on these and all toxic, carcinogenic triazines currently being used in our State,” Mr Morris said.