Yarrabah health workers to get tested for copper in blood

Third world services at Queensland’s largest Indigenous town are back in the spotlight after health service staff were asked to undergo blood testing in response to the metal being detected in drinking water.

Yarrabah Indigenous health insiders concerned about elevated levels of copper in drinking water have claimed an information black hole after staff were asked to undergo blood testing for the metal last week.

In an all-employee high-priority email circulated to staff on May 17 the Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services director said routine water testing at the Bukki Rd health facility had picked up “slightly elevated” copper levels.

“The testing will only check for copper levels and will be separate to usual health checks and offered to any staff who have worked at the facility and ingested water over the last two years,” the email read.

The email suggested that staff to undergo blood testing and results would be passed on to the director of medical services at Babinda and Yarrabah, Dr Renee Cremen.

Gurriny Yealamucka Health & Wellbeing Centre at Yarrabah. Picture: Scott Burrows

A public notice issued by Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council on Saturday stated Tropical Public Health Services was investigating plumbing at the Bukki Rd facility which included seeking specialist engineering advice.

Sources inside the health service claim the seven line email sent by the director has not adequately informed or allayed concerns about health impacts for Indigenous workers or the anxiety for up to three new mums who have recently delivered full term babies.

Drinking water sourced from a kitchen tap at the Indigenous health centre building in Yarrabah. Picture: Supplied

“My concern is for anyone that has liver and kidney disease because there’s lot of Indigenous (people) with underlying kidney disease and they could be impacted,” one source said.

“The water does not have strong metallic taste but it’s filthy as. It’s brown.

“The moral obligation to inform, does that rest with us because we drank the water or with Queensland Heath?

Eating or drinking too much copper can cause headaches, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, liver damage and kidney disease.

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines recommend that the level of copper in drinking water should be less than 2 mg/L.

Copper levels present in the blood of Yarrabah health workers is not known.

Pathology request forms circulated to Gurriny Yealamucka Health workers in Yarrabah last week ordering tests for copper. Picture: Supplied

It’s understood about 140 or 150 people could be affected by drinking water contaminants, that have been confined to the Bukki Rd facility.

According to 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics data Yarrabah is the sixth most disadvantaged local government area in the nation.

Third world infrastructure at Queensland’s largest Indigenous community, including poor internet reception led to the closure of a new GP clinic in March after it was revealed the facility cannot be used for telehealth sessions.

A concerned Yarrabah Mayor Ross Andrews said his community was crying out for help to address substandard public used facilities.

“Council is very concerned that there has been copper detected in the community,” he said.

“Our ageing infrastructure is starting to have a serious effect on our water and wastewater infrastructure and we need more government investment and support to really get on top of the situation out here.”

According to Yarrabah council water samples are being taken twice daily and the situation is being monitored.

Tropical Public Health Services director Dr Richard Gair said staff and patients visiting the Gurriny Yealamucka Health centre had been advised to drink bottled water during the investigation and until rectifications occur.

“Senior officers from the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, including

experts in environmental health and medical doctors have met twice with staff at the

Yarrabah Health Service in May to answer questions and share with them the plans to

address the water quality issues,” he said.

Specifically asked about acceptable levels of copper in the blood Dr Gair declined to state if water contaminants at the centre did fall within safe levels outlined by Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

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Originally published as Yarrabah health workers to get tested for copper in blood