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Health authorities in Nelson have found no evidence of a link
between a rare brain disease and the use of a toxic fumigant at the
city's port.
A group of widows had claimed that their husbands died from motor
neurone disease after being exposed to methyl bromide
Methyl bromide, which is used to fumigate export timber, is blamed for the deaths of half a dozen former port Nelson workers by their widows.
They believe the gas caused motor neurone disease which killed their husbands.
"I still think it was highly probable that those men were gassed by methyl bromide," says Widow, Sue Lindsay.
But health officials said no medical evidence linked the use of the gas with the disease.
The study found that of the six port workers who died three of them had been exposed to methyl bromide. But the report also says rates of motor neurone disease in Nelson were in line with other parts of the country.
Nelson Medical Officer of Health, Ed Kiddle, says the fact that a group of them had a history of working in the Port Nelson area was due to chance.
"While I accept the findings... I do feel its probably always going to be a mystery because we can't ask the men directly," says Lyndsay.
Earlier this year cement truck drivers near the fumigation shed, complained of feeling unwell. Now fumigation has been been moved to another part of the port, and warnings are given before the gas is used.
Occupational Safety and Health says there are no signs of any gas leaking from the new location and blood tests reveal there is a low risk of exposure to methyl bromide.
Mike Cosman from the Department of Labour says they think the current symptoms that have reported may be due to other solvents used as part of timber treatment operations.
Despite the report the Nelson group of widows wants timber fumigation with methyl bromide at the port stopped.
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