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The Green Party wants the use of the fumigant methyl bromide banned from urban or residential areas after findings that Nelson residents may have been exposed to unacceptably high levels of the deadly gas.
Two reports released this week show parts of Nelson's Port Hills could be exposed to methyl bromide levels more than twice those permitted by workplace safety standards.
The odourless gas, used as a fumigant at New Zealand ports, has been blamed for the death and ill-health of residents living and working around the port.
Green Party environment spokeswoman Sue Kedgley said yesterday it was "alarming" that Port Hills residents were exposed to the toxic gas allegedly at double the safety limit.
"We know this is a dangerous and damaging gas, especially to the lungs and nervous system.
"It can be fatal, and chronic exposure through the air has been associated with a range of neurological effects. It is frankly irresponsible for the Government to allow it to take place near residential dwellings."
She said the Greens believed methyl bromide fumigation should be permitted only in dedicated sites that were located in industrial zones, and only on condition that all the gas used was recaptured.
"At the very least the fumigators should be obliged to warn residents when a highly toxic gas is being used next to or near their homes and then released into the atmosphere."
Nelson City Council has decided not to take any enforcement action against fumigation company Genera's activities at the port until a legal appeal by the company is resolved.
Genera technical adviser Alan Perry said it did not oppose the release of the reports, but believed they were inaccurate and "shown to be wrong by scientific measurement".
Port Hills residents' concern was "understandable" in view of the reports' conclusions, he said, but Nelson had been more closely monitored than any other port in New Zealand.
Monitoring had consistently shown that methyl bromide levels were undetectable in many cases and well within national and international standards.
- NZPA
