Otago timber workers are among thousands of New Zealanders being asked to come forward after new research highlighted the dangers of historic exposure to the chemical pentachlorophenol (PCP).
A Massey University study has found timber workers exposed to high doses of the chemical had elevated dioxin levels in their blood, and were more likely to die of cancer or respiratory diseases than those who escaped high levels of exposure.
The chemical was widely used as an anti-sap stain treatment in the timber industry from the 1950s to the 1980s, including at 19 sawmills operating across Otago during the period.
The research findings, first published in 2007, prompted the Ministry of Health to contract Allen and Clarke to carry out formal consultation with timber workers - which could lead to the development of a new support service for workers.
Allen and Clarke senior associate Anna Gribble, of Wellington, told the Otago Daily Times up to 100,000 people were working in the timber industry at the time, but estimates to date suggested only about 10% of those workers - about 10,000 people- were believed to have been exposed to high-level doses.
Investigating the extent of exposure in detail was one of the objectives of the Allen and Clarke project, she said.
Milton man Rex Spence (63) said yesterday he used to be "soaked" by the chemical while working as a young man in a North Island sawmill.
Aged about 16, he spent several months in the 1960s working with PCP - "a real brown oily looking stuff" - for hours each day, pouring it into bathtubs and soaking timber cuts in the solution.
Protection was non-existent - he wore a pair of gloves, to protect against the rough timber, and an apron, which often failed to keep him dry, he said.
"We didn't think much of it.
It was only years later I found out what it contained," he said.
"It was just timber treatment as far as we were concerned."
Mr Spence, who still works in the timber industry, said he had not experienced health problems as a result of exposure, but was still worried by the research.
"Of course it would worry me - any of this sort of stuff does."
Others in the Otago timber industry had similar stories to tell, saying the chemical was the treatment of choice within the industry, and widely used throughout the period.
The latest PCP research, commissioned by the Department of Labour, followed a long campaign by the Sawmill Workers Against Poison (Swap) group aimed at raising awareness of dioxins and PCP.
The research was carried out by Dr David McLean, a research fellow at Massey University's Wellington-based Centre for Public Health Research, and traced health outcomes for about 4000 timber workers from the period.
It found those exposed to the chemical had a 20% higher overall mortality rate, and a 40% higher mortality rate from cancer, compared with those not exposed to it, he said.
However, those results were considered less significant than a three-fold increase in mortality rates for respiratory diseases identified by the research, he said.
A secondary survey of 300 living timber workers, aged between 40 and 80 selected at random from the original 4000, found only about 10% received "quite significant" PCP exposure, he said.
However, those subjected to high doses reported similar levels of respiratory disease, as well as other symptoms including unexplained fevers, heart palpitations, frequent fatigue and depression.
"The higher the dose the more prevalent those sorts of symptoms were," he said.
Allen and Clarke's consultation with timber workers was scheduled to take place later this year, and a report with recommendations was expected to be provided to the Ministry of Health in March 2010, Ms Gribble said.
Concerned workers can contact Allen and Clarke's Wellington office on (04) 890-7310; or pcpss@allenandclarke.co.nzchris.morris@odt.co.nz
Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
What is it?
•Chemical widely used in New Zealand timber industry from 1950s-1980s.
•Considered a possible carcinogen; often contains health-threatening dioxins.
•Latest Massey University research finds about 10,000 timber workers exposed to high levels of PCP, show higher levels of cancer and respiratory disease mortality.
Where to from here?
•Allen and Clarke asked to investigate the need for new support service for workers, on behalf of Health Ministry.
•Workers with health concerns urged to come forward.
•Public consultation planned for later this year.
•Final report containing recommendations expected by March 2010.
