DOH: Fabella Hospital cleanup completed

Following decontamination efforts during the weekend, the Department of Health on Monday declared the Fabella Hospital in Manila clear of the effects of a chemical spill last Thursday.

 

In a radio interview, National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Enrique Tayag said that with the development, Fabella Hospital will remain open to the public.

 

"Kahapon (natapos) ang cleanup, ang Fabella mananatiling bukas," Tayag said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

In a news release, the DOH said the decontamination was ordered after "unacceptable levels" of ambient mercury were detected in areas where liquid dental amalgam had spilled from broken containers.

 

But the DOH stressed these areas were in a separate building far from the patient areas.

 

The DOH statement said 40 patients from the nearby Pediatric Ward "were transferred last Friday to another part of the hospital for their safety."

 

It added that all patient areas in Fabella were tested for ambient mercury after the cleanup, "and all tested negative for mercury build-up."

 

Comply with DOH directives
 

Following Thursday's spill, Health Secretary Enrique Ona reminded all health facilities nationwide to comply with the DOH directive on the  phase-out of devices containing mercury, including amalgam.

 

Disposal of these chemicals should be coordinated with Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Ona said in the same DOH statement.

 

"All chemical spills regardless of amount shall require immediate clean up to prevent or limit human exposures. Mercury vapor causes acute and chronic health effects involving the brain, lungs and kidneys depending on amount and time period of exposure, which is usually through inhalation," the DOH said.

 

The DOH said some 80 hospital personnel, including members of the Hazardous Material Unit, were subjected to blood mercury testing as part of standard operating procedures.

 

"Patients were not included in the monitoring because they had no exposures. The hospital staff were those who may have been in and around the storage areas where the chemical spill occurred," the DOH said.

 

It added all supplies and materials in the storage areas will be disposed if they are found to be significantly contaminated with mercury.

 

"The affected areas will only be used again by hospital employees only after Hazardous Material Unit declares them safe for occupation," the DOH said. — RSJ, GMA News