A $1.1 million upgrade of a busy Auckland road has been delayed because of the discovery of carcinogenic tar dust at the construction site - right beside the Child Cancer Foundation and Starship Hospital.
And Auckland Transport has come under fire for failing to alert neighbours to the possible inhalationof toxic particles from the road works on Grafton Rd.
Asphalt containing more than 150mg/kg of coal tar is deemed hazardous waste in Europe. Yet it can be found in quantities of up to 7000mg in New Zealand and most streets built before 1970 - those which have not been reconstructed - are likely to contain coal tar below the surface.
The Aucklander reveals today that children with low resistance to infections may have been inhaling carcinogenic coal tar particles as they walk from Starship Hospital to the nearby Child Cancer Foundation. Dust was also blowing around the building.
"We knew nothing about any contamination or [potential] health risk," said Child Cancer office manager Paula Elder.
Dust clouds from road works were blowing around buildings when The Aucklander visited on Friday.
Auckland Transport said a new resource consent is being sought to remove the toxic waste and admitted there was a risk to the health of road workers who touch it.
Sharon Hunter, Auckland Transport spokeswoman, also confirmed residents and nearby workers were not advised of the contamination: "The site is fenced off, restricting public access and therefore there is a low risk."
