DOCTORS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT 1080 POISON BEING DEPOSITED IN DRINKING WATER

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE*

THE INCREDIBLE LETTER BELOW HAS BEEN PREPARED BY DOCTORS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT 1080 POISON BEING DEPOSITED IN DRINKING WATER

Open letter to the Government, Friday, 21st September 2018.

As doctors, we are extremely concerned about the health risk of depositing poisoned bait over 22,500 hectares of the Hunua water catchment area. Specifically, we are concerned about Sodium Fluoroacetate (SMFA / 1080), a known deadly poison which is known to cause sub-lethal effects on reproduction and is classified as a teratogen, having potential to contaminate the Auckland water supply.

There is no effective antidote for 1080 poisoning in humans.

We are extremely concerned that public officials are not adopting a far more precautionary approach to the safety of the Auckland water catchment, especially when the effects of 1080, a highly soluble poison, is not quantifiably able to be tested on how it affects the health of humans.

Studies show that 1080 affects the reproductive organs, the cardiac system, and respiratory system in mammals. There is no safe minimal level known and water testing and sampling after aerial 1080 application cannot prudently protect the public from risk of exposure from this poison.

As doctors, we are responsible for the health of individuals and communities. Therefore, we ask the government to immediately stop the usage of sodium fluoroacetate which has potential to contaminate the New Zealand water supply.

Signed,

Dr Ulrich Doering MBChB, Dipl O+G, FRNZCGP

Dr Roger Leitch MBChB, FRNZCGP

Dr Mogens Poppe FRNZCGP FRACGP

Dr Caroline Wheeler MBChB, BSc, Dip O+G

Dr Ron Goedeke BSc (Hons), MBChB

Dr Tessa Jones MBChB, Dipl Obs, FRNZCGP, FACNEM, FAARM

Dr. Charles M. Baycroft BSc; MD. FRNZCGP, Dip MSM, QBE.

Dr Donald Palmer MBChB, Dipl O+G, FRNZCGP

Dr Jocelyn Lydford MD

Dr Kamal Karl MBBS, FRNZCGP, FACNEM, FNZCAM, FACCS

Dr Avani Karl

Dr Rick Coleman MB ChB, Dip Obst, FRNZCGP

Dr Helen Proctor

Dr Richard Drexel

Dr Tim Ewer, MB ChB, MMedSci, MRCP, FRACP, FRNZCGP, Dip Occ Med

Dr Tracey Chandler BSc (Hons), MB ChB, FRNZCGP, MNZSCM, PGDipSEM, Cert Dermoscopy

Dr Janine Budden MBCHB, MRCGP, FRNZCGP, CertNutrMed, DipObs

Dr Bill Crawford MBCHB

Dr Anne O’Reilly MB BCh FRNZCGP

Dr Aida M Hasbun MD, FRNCGP,

Dr Anna Harvey MBChB, FRNZCGP

Dr Steve Joe BHB. MB.ChB Dip Obs FRNZCGP

Dr Damian Wojcik BSc MBChB DipObs DCH FIBCMT FACNEM FRNZCGP Master Forensic Medicine (Monash) FRCPA (Forensic). General Practitioner; Clinical Metal Toxicologist; Forensic Physician

Dr Bill Reeder MBChB ACNEM AIMA DAN NZAMM