Exide Pollution Action Group (EPAG)

Petone Residents Fight Exide Lead Pollution

A group of Petone residents near Exide Technologies, a lead battery recycling plant in Waione Street have formed the Exide Pollution Action Group (EPAG). They want Exide Batteries to cease operations until it can prove that there are no more fugitive lead emissions.

Check our website – www.exidepollution.com.

A public forum has been arranged for next Wednesday 8th June at the Service Centre at the back of the Petone Library in Britannia Street at 7:30pm. Representatives from the Regional Council, Public Health and local residents have been invited to speak.

A petition will be launched on the night and people will be guided on how to make a submission.

‘Residents near the site were horrified to receive a letter from Regional Health telling people how to protect themselves,” spokesperson from EPAG, Frances Cherry said. “I couldn’t believe it when I discovered that the fugitive arsenic emissions far exceeded the World Health standards – 30 times over the limit! This can cause elevated blood levels in humans, lower IQ in children and also cause liver, kidney and brain disease - and is a probable cause of cancer”.

“Children have played around the site for years and yet the workers wear masks and protective clothing”

Residents were shocked that they hadn’t been warned by Exide and say that the wider community is affected as well.

There are service foods companies, a children’s play area and a beach across the road. Storm water from roofs and paved areas affect the aquatic environment and the soil. And lead dust travels posing a real threat to local children and pregnant women. “

“This is what happens in third world countries” Frances Cherry said, “you don’t expect it in New Zealand”.

ENDS

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