Dioxins

Serum dioxin study in Paritutu

Non-occupational health effects in the New Plymouth population

Because of concerns by residents that illnesses might be attributed to dioxin exposures from the former Ivon Watkins-Dow plant in New Plymouth, the Ministry of Health proposed a serum dioxin study of selected residents who live or did live at Paritutu, the nearest suburb to the plant.

The aim of the survey is to determine the level of dioxin exposure in comparison with the levels found in the Ministry for the Environment’s background population study.

The final report of a study to investigate historical exposure to dioxin among current and former residents of the New Plymouth suburb of Paritutu was released on 10 March 2005.

The study, conducted by the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), was to determine whether residents who lived close to the former Ivon Watkins Dow (IWD) agrichemical plant while the herbicide 2,4,5-T was being made 18 years ago had dioxin levels higher than other New Zealanders.

Phase I of the survey

Phase I of the survey is available below in PDF format.

• New Plymouth, Paritutu - Community Dioxin Exposure Assessment Study (PDF, 260 kB)

Phase II: Serum Testing

Interim Report:

• A Study of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Exposures in Paritutu, New Zealand - Interim Report (PDF, 421 kB)

Final Report

You can download the final report below in PDF format.

• A Study of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Exposures in Paritutu, New Zealand - Final Report, with Errata (Word, 3 MB)

Study summary

• Summary of Paritutu Serum Dioxin Study 2005 (PDF, 15 KB)

Appendices

• Appendix A: New Plymouth, Paritutu Community Dioxin Exposure Assessment Study (PDF, 1,63 MB)
• Appendix B: Multipathway Assessment of Exposures from Dioxin Releases in the Paritutu Area (PDF, 1,78 MB)
• Appendix C: Geospatial Modelling of Soil TCDD (PDF, 463 kB)
• Appendix D: Estimation of exposures associated with 2378-TCDD in soils, and possible current serum residues from those exposures. (PDF, 255 kB)
• Appendix E: NZ 2378-TCDD Toxicokinetic Model (PDF, 333 kB)
• Appendix F: Preliminary Review of Pharmacokinetic Modeling Issues for Estimating Long-Past 2,3,7,8-Tetrachloro-Dibenzo-Dioxin Exposures in New Zealand (PDF, 197 kB)
• Appendix G: Controls Approach (PDF, 82 kB)
• Appendix H: Interpretation of blood results (PDF, 147 kB)
• Appendix I: Interlaboratory Quality Assessment on Levels of PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs in Human Milk and Blood Plasma (PDF, 487 kB)
• Appendix J: Carton milk and other intake changes (PDF, 55 kB)
• Appendix K: Statistical Assessment Revised (PDF, 99 kB)
• Appendix L: Dioxin Questionnaire (PDF, 244 kB)
• Appendix M: Questionnaire Paritutu Serum Dioxin Study (PDF, 265 kB)
• Appendix N: Analysis of Polychlorinated Dioxins and Furans, and PCB Congeners in Blood Serum by Hrgc/Ms - AXYS Analytical Services Ltd. (PDF, 87 kB)
• Appendix P: Summary Description of Candidate Selection Model (PDF, 62kB)
• Appendix O: Individual Dioxin and PCB Serum Results for the Paritutu Dioxin Study 2004 (Phase II, Parts 1 & 2), with Errata (PDF, 46 KB)

Possible Health Effects of Manufacture of 2,4,5-T in New Plymouth (PDF, 986kB) - Report of Ministerial Committee of Inquiry to the Minister of Health

Important - Ministry of Health disclaimer
The data and analyses contained in A Study of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Exposures in Paritutu, New Zealand Phase II: Serum Testing An Interim Report to the New Zealand Ministry of Health have been supplied to the Ministry of Health by the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR).

The Ministry of Health cannot confirm the accuracy of the data and the analyses, and accepts no liability or responsibility for any acts or omissions, done or omitted in reliance, in whole or in part, on the data or the analyses.

Peer Review

• Marie Haring Sweeney's comments on: A study of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposures in Paritutu, New Zealand (PDF, 446 KB)
• Allan H. Smith's comments on: A Study of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Exposures in Paritutu, New Zealand (PDF, 50 KB)
• C Frampton's comments on: A Study of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Exposures in Paritutu, New Zealand (PDF, 26 KB)

Rebuttals of Leonard's review

• Review by ESR on the report of John Leonard, Forensic Accountant , Gerry Rea Associates, Auckland, broadcast on TV3, Monday 23 October, 2006 as part of the documentary “Let us Spray” (PDF, 16 KB)
• Rebuttal – Leonard report October 2006, Dr Jeff Fowles, Principal Investigator (PDF, 50 KB)

2005 Peer Reviews

• Professor Neil Pearce's comments on: Fowles et al. A study of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposures in Paritutu, New Zealand (PDF, 13 KB)
• Preliminary Review of Pharmacokinetic Modeling Issues for Estimating Long-Past 2,3,7,8-Tetrachloro-Dibenzo-Dioxin Exposures in New Zealand, Dale Hattis (PDF, 139 KB)
• Peer review of the Report to the New Zealand Ministry of Health – A Study of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Exposures in Paritutu, New Zealand, Erik Dybing, Norwegian Institute of Public Health (PDF, 28 KB)

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Related information
29 Apr 2008: Health support service for people exposed to dioxin
24 Jan 2007: Reviews endorse serum dioxin study (www.beehive.govt.nz)
9 Sept 2004: Interim report on blood dioxin study made public (media release)