Midwives warn of 1080 risk

Pregnant  women have been told to leave town before a 1080 drop in their area, fuelling debate over whether the poison is dangerous to society.

Authorities insist there is little evidence that 1080 could harm pregnant women - but midwives have told at least three West Coast woman to leave town if a poison drop planned to start on Tuesday takes place.

"Nobody can guarantee this substance does not cross the placental barrier," Nelson District Health Board midwife Carol Craven wrote to Danielle Yealands of Karamea.

Similar advice was given to another two women by Caroline Selwood, a West Coast District Health Board midwife.

Ms Yealands, who is three months pregnant, said she planned to follow her midwife's advice.

She and other women had a meeting with West Coast Regional Council to discuss their concerns. In response, the council agreed to move the drop, which was going to be next to her property.

Despite the drop being moved about a kilometre away, Ms Yealands still plans to leave if it goes ahead. "I'm definitely going. Nothing would convince me to stay."

Tanya McCulloch also plans to leave town. Just six weeks pregnant, she has not seen a midwife yet, but has heard about the advice. "I'm worried about the long-term effects. They could go on for months."

She is also concerned about the effect on local waterways.

West Coast District Health Board spokesman Bryan Jamieson said there was little evidence linking 1080 to pregnancy problems. "The midwife gave advice to two individuals, and that seems to have miraculously transformed itself into health advice for the whole community."

1080 is classed as a hazardous substance, toxic by inhalation, to the skin and if swallowed. It has been blamed for illnesses such as cancer and hormonal disruption, though authorities say there is no evidence that human health has been harmed by its normal use.

However, research has shown that 1080 can cause deformities in animal foetuses.

Last year the Environmental Risk Management Authority cleared 1080's continued use, saying the benefits outweighed the risks. Each year 1080 bait is dropped on an estimated 580,000 hectares of forest.

The authority acknowledged public health concerns but said that the risks were managed by strict controls.

Ed Kiddle, a medical officer of health at Nelson DHB, said its midwife advice had not considered those controls.

"There are a lot of very strict conditions involved in any 1080 drop, designed to protect not just pregnant women, but the whole population."

Police are still hunting for the sender of 12 packages believed to contain 1080 that were delivered this week.

Four were delivered in Wellington, to Parliament Buildings, the Reserve Bank, the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry and the Health Ministry.

Eight went to Nelson organisations.

WHAT IS 1080?

1080 is the common name for sodium fluoroacetate - a potent metabolic poison. It is used to kill unwanted pests such as rats, stoats and possums. In pure form, 1080 is extremely lethal - one-tenth of a gram can kill a human. When used for aerial drops it is diluted to about one teaspoon per hectare.

- © Fairfax NZ News