One water cooler found with excessive cadmium levels

THE Health Ministry yesterday confirmed increased levels of cadmium had been found in one public water cooler following the completion of the first phase of a national investigation testing for the highly toxic metal.

Speaking to reporters at an impromptu press briefing, Health Ministry permanent secretary Andis Tryfonides said only one out of 35 samples tested had tested positive for high levels of the extremely toxic metal. The other 34 had tested for levels well below EU limits acceptable for drinking water, he said.

Although cadmium is ordinarily found in industrial workplaces, the investigation into the water in public water coolers was called for following the discovery in Greece of increased levels of the carcinogenic metal.

According to Tryfonides, samples had been taken from water coolers in public places such as hospitals, schools and army camps.

“During the first phase, 35 samples were sent to the state lab for analysis,” he said. “Thirty-four of the samples showed levels of cadmium well below acceptable EU limits for drinking water.”

The permanent secretary said there had been only “one sample, from a particular type of water cooler, where levels of two to two and half times the acceptable amount of cadmium were found”. This water cooler was found at Nicosia general hospital, CyBC reported.

Nevertheless, the particular water cooler was not in operation at the time the sample was taken, due to an electrical fault. And leaving water stagnant “for long periods of time contributes towards increasing cadmium levels,” he said.

Tryfonides said the water cooler was disconnected immediately and the Health Services were instructed to take further samples from similar water coolers.

He added: “Drinking water is systematically checked for a large number of things, including cadmium, and its levels are continuously below EU acceptable limits.”
Despite this, testing will continue throughout the island to include a wider number of samples, he assured.