Don't try detoxification treatments, Hong Kong health minister warns residents affected by lead-tainted water

Health minister Dr Ko Wing-man warned residents affected by lead-tainted water against trying detoxification treatments without consulting the appropriate medical professionals, saying such remedies could be harmful if not conducted properly.

He was speaking yesterday as more residents of Kai Ching Estate in Kowloon City attended hospitals for government-funded blood tests, despite the first nine taking the tests having recorded "normal" levels of lead in their blood.

Political groups staged rallies yesterday demanding the government provide support to residents of other housing estates affected by excessive levels of lead in their drinking water.

Ko said on a radio show future blood tests might find samples with lead levels exceeding the maximum allowed by the World Health Organisation, which is 10 micrograms per 100 millilitres of blood for adults and 5mcg for children and pregnant women.

But he said there would only be a danger of acute lead poisoning if blood lead levels were nine or 10 times the WHO standard.

Even if lead was detected at such high levels, patients should not rush to make use of detoxification treatments, Ko said.

He said patients should first seek an assessment from a specialist, who could decide on treatment and how to minimise risks.