Newsletter No. 547/548

掃描以了解校園污染物含量檢測結果詳情 Scan to learn more about the sampling and testing results of harmful chemicals on campus 中文 English 03 # 5 4 7 / 5 4 8 | 1 1 . 1 2 . 2 0 1 9 CUHK Newsletter also talked to Dr. Scotty Luk (SL), Director of University Health Service. abovementioned chemicals. The samples were mostly taken from the areas that saw the most intensive conflict between police and protesters, but some were also taken from more remote sites to give comparisons. Soil and water samples were taken on 19 November while air samples were taken on different dates from 21 November to 29 November. Prof. K.M. Chan of the School of Life Sciences, himself an expert on environmental biochemistry and toxicology, had also done some sampling himself, hadn’t he? Yes, he collected 12 soil samples on 15 November. His samples were also sent by my office to ALS Technichem (HK) Pty Ltd for analyses. What testing methods/standards were adopted for the samples? ALS Technichem (HK) Pty Ltd adopts the USEPA 8270/GCMS method in testing for PCBs and PAHs, and APHA 4500CN: B, C, E, I for Cyanide. For Dioxins, the samples have to be sent to its overseas laboratory in Prague, Czech Republic, which will adopt the USEPA 1613/HRGC-HRMS method. What are the results? The results that have come back so far indicate that no significant amount of Dioxins, Cyanide, PCBs or PAHs was detected in the water and soil samples and colleagues should not worry about these pollutants. Should we worry about the water supply on campus? Water is supplied to the campus community by sealed pipes and the risk of contamination should be very low. What about the air we breathe? Where it is open and ventilation is good, the risk should be low. However, we took samples from a more expansive area on campus. The test results will be available soon. What symptoms should we be watching out for if the working population on campus were somehow exposed to harmful materials? The remains of tear gas particles will cause irritation to mucous membranes especially over eyes and the respiratory tract. Some people may also develop skin rash after direct contact with the particles. Thus, the ocular, respiratory and dermatological areas are the main bodily areas to look for symptoms. The campus has resumed normal operation since 25 November. Have you noticed anything special in the students or staff who visited the University Clinic? The campus public should seek help from the University Clinic or other medical personnel if they experience symptoms they believe to have been triggered by contact with chemical particles. From the data retrieved from the University Clinic since 25 November, we did not observe any trend or aggregate of patients with these symptoms. NSL: NSL: NSL: NSL: NSL: NSL: NSL: RL: RL: RL: RL: RL: SL: SL: 1 2 3 4 5 李繼業先生 Mr. Ralph Lee 陸偉昌醫生 Dr. Scotty Luk 衝突期間，警方發射大量 催淚彈。校方已委託獨立 化驗所檢測校園各處土 壤、空氣和水質 Numerous rounds of tear gas were fired during the conflict. The University has appointed an independent laboratory to examine the soil, air and water on campus 專人身穿保護衣物，於夏 鼎基運動場收集泥土樣本 Professionals in hazmat suits collecting soil samples at Sir Philip Haddon-Cave Sports Field 於崇基學院抽取水辦 Collecting water samples at Chung Chi College 抽取空氣樣本 Collecting air samples 大學保健處已於11月25 日重開。若懷疑因接觸 有毒物質而不適，可到該 處求診 Members of the CUHK community may seek help from the University Health Service, reopened on 25 November, if they suspect being affected by any toxins 1 5 3 4 TC