3 cases of lead poisoning uncovered on Tinian

Three lead poisoning cases were recently uncovered on Tinian but the situation was readily resolved with the help of the Tinian Mayor’s Office, Department of Public Health, and the Division of Environmental Quality.

In a statement issued yesterday, it was learned that Freddie Hofschneider, director of the Tinian Health Center, had informed the director of Public Health and its medical director on Saipan that three cases of lead poisoning had been identified in one household, a father and two children, in Marpo Heights.

DEQ director Frank Rabauliman and Ray Masga visited Tinian, interviewed the head of the household and conducted testing on the soil and exposures. They discovered that the father was recycling batteries to process the lead contents into fishing sinkers. The children apparently became contaminated through association.

After a multi-agency meeting on Saipan, DEQ deputy director David Rosario visited with Tinian Mayor Ramon M. Dela Cru to inform him of the three cases and to help resolve the situation. Along with Tinian resident director of Public Safety Ray Pangelinan, they visited the Marpo Heights residence. The family voluntarily moved to another residence and the house lot was cordoned with appropriate hazard tape. Although DEQ has determined that there is no danger to nearby residences, DEQ will continue to monitor the situation.

“I am pleased that the problem was quickly identified and resolved through the cooperative efforts of the CNMI Division of Environmental Quality, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Commerce,” said Dela Cruz.

Jose Kiyoshi, resident head for the Department of Commerce, said that Triple Star Hardware on Tinian is licensed to legally recycle batteries. Kiyoshi encouraged all public, private and commercial entities on Tinian to take their old batteries, of any nature, to Triple Star where they can be properly processed for legal recycling.

“Lead poisoning is a very serious condition,” said Dela Cruz, “especially for children. I am pleased that our department heads worked together in a timely fashion to discover not only the source of the problem, but also the solution. My congratulations to each of the agency heads involved. This a classic example of what can happen when department heads from Saipan and Tinian work together on problems of common concern to the People of Tinian and the CNMI.” [I](Office of the Tinian Mayor)[/I]