Manufacturing News

Carcinogen from car industry causes relocation of Adelaide residents

Some residents from the Adelaide suburb of Clovelly Park are
to be relocated because of the presence of a carcinogen historically used in
the car industry.

The Australian reports that the South Australian Environment
Protection Authority began telling residents of 25 homes that they have to move
because the industrial chemical Trichloroethylene is present in the
neighbourhood.

Environment Minister Ian Hunter said, “There are no
immediate public health risks, but there is a need to undertake some action in
the short term. It is the long-term exposure … that is our concern.”

He added that the decision to evacuate the residents had
been made with an “abundance of caution”.

According to the ABC, Trichloroethylene is a degreaser that
has historically been used in the automotive sector. In this case, the danger
is from a solvent which was used by Monroe Australia.

According to the Australian, in parliament yesterday, the state opposition questioned the
speed of the government’s response to the situation after it was revealed that
the risks had been known for six weeks before action was taken.

Premier Jay
Weatherill responded that the government had been preparing an “extensive
communications strategy” and that the residents were in no immediate danger.

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