Chief Medical Officer Glen Beneby yesterday defended the Ministry of Health's response to the Rubis gasoline spill, pledging that public health officials will "make good on any shortfall" that may exist as a result of previous failures.
Beneby, who spoke at a press conference at the Ministry of Health, said the Department of Public Health has started screening Marathon residents to determine if any of them are at risk.
The gasoline spill happened in late 2012/early 2013 at the Rubis gas station on Robinson Road. The government has come under heavy fire for failing to release sooner a report from Black & Veatch which said residents and people who work near the gas station could be at risk. It took the government 14 months to release the report.
Asked if it was dangerous to wait so long to begin screening, Beneby said, "Our aim here is not to create anxiety.
"Our aim is to address the matter before us, to do so thoroughly and to make good on any shortfall that may exist as a result of what has been or has not been done in the past. So that is our focus today and going forward."
The government announced on Sunday that screenings will begin on Monday. The exercise is being carried out in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Beneby admitted yesterday that the screening process was hampered by the inclement weather. However, Department of Public Health Administrator Charlene Bain said officials had already visited 13 homes and went out yesterday morning to continue screening.
During the visits, residents will be required to fill out a form that will help public health officials determine their risk of exposure to harmful chemicals. Based of the residents' responses, health officials will determine whether the residents need to take blood tests, Beneby said.
"The Ministry of Health and the Department of Public Health take this as a very serious responsibility and we maintain our confidentiality, the compassion and the sensitivity necessary for the residents in Marathon in particular and all those associated with this unfortunate circumstance," he said.
"We are working together along with our partners in (the Department of) Environmental Health, and Water and Sewerage Corporation to get this very important work done. We intend not to leave any stone unturned as we seek to get this work done."
Beneby said the department will screen residents within a two mile radius and farther if necessary.
The Black & Veatch report was completed on February 20th, 2014, but wasn't released until April 17th, 2015. The report indicates that a sample of homes tested in the vicinity of the Rubis spill in May 2013 revealed contamination concentrations of benzene that were hundreds of times, and in some cases thousands of times higher than acceptable screening levels in the United States.
Beneby said subsequent tests done in March 2014 confirmed the presence of benzene and other potential contaminants were at acceptable levels.
"At the present time the available scientific findings strongly suggest that there is no danger to the community in that area," he said. "In the interest of public health, however, we will continue testing and monitoring the situation for the next several years."
As a part of its response efforts, Beneby said a government clinic will be open to residents on the weekends. Residents with questions or concerns may contact officials at 502-4790. Screenings will be completed by June 1st, according to public health officials.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
