Open University - Camelford Case Study

Luther Blissett

Luther Blissett

Senior Member (Voting Rights)
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/mone...nagement/managing/camelford/case/studygeneral

I've been meaning to post this for over a year but kept forgetting.

A case study that asks
"How did clear thought help during the water contamination disaster at Camelford?"

What happens when 20 tons of aluminium sulphate is accidentally poured into a water treatment plant?

A mistake in July 1988 saw 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate added to drinking water in Camelford, Cornwall.

Discovering the cause of the incident, and reacting, called for clear thinking; it's a strong example of how systems thinking can rise to the occasion in a crisis.
Click to expand...
 
Clear thought? According to what I’ve read online, Camelford residents were issued a boil water advisory. That served only to concentrate the contaminant, and put some of it into their lungs while they boiled the water. Unfortunately, many trusted the words of the government before the evidence of their eyes and nose, and suffered permanent brain and organ damage as a result.
 
I didn't know that anxiety could turn your hair green, but apparently that was the official response.

Seven months after the contamination, one victim underwent a bone biopsy which "found a ring of aluminium like the rings you see in trees" that could not have resulted from normal aluminium absorption.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camelford_water_pollution_incident#Carol_Cross

In 2006 a post-mortem inquest into the death of Carol Cross at age 58, who was exposed to the contaminated drinking water aged 44, showed that her brain contained 23 micrograms of aluminium per gram of brain, compared to the normal brain levels of 0–2 micrograms per gram. Her death was caused by a form of early-onset beta amyloid angiopathy, a cerebro-vascular disease usually associated with Alzheimer's, which could be connected to the abnormally high level of aluminium in her brain.[47][48]
 
If I remember the conversation when this last came up correctly, there may have been a suspicion at the time that some unaffected local took advantage of the situation in the hopes of compensation of some sort.

However, in my eyes, just because that is a possibility it shouldn't be used to negate or minimise the effects on everyone involved.
 
One thing that seems odd about this is that the "investigation" is by a team of two people whose knowledge, skills, experience and views are probably largely interchangeable. Would one not reasonably expect one psychiatrist and one other, say, toxicologist or chemist? Given their past collaboration it seems unlikely that one would challenge the view of the other too strongly, or look for alternative explanations.
 
I met Doug a few times in the early 2000's at Green Environmental network and Environmental Law Society events. Sarah Myhill was also there as was Marty Pall. ( 2004?)

If he couldn't get justice with his credentials, who can? SW has an awful lot to answer for.

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/britains-worst-mass-water-poisoning-1760990

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Douglas_Cross3

Most of my career has been in environmental forensics, ranging across projects, pollution and even pirate attacks. Been held hostage, shot at, poisoned, (several times), and cross-examined by hostile barristers in Courts and Tribunals in sundry places and conditions. Developed new tech, exposed old, discredited the statistics, irritated the hell out of a lot of people but still the Clients come back for more! Call me?
2.19 · BSc (Hons) Zoology, Physiology,, Biochemistry, University of Southampton UK 1964
 
Suffolkres said:
I met Doug a few times in the early 2000's at Green Environmental network and Environmental Law Society events. Sarah Myhill was also there as was Marty Pall. ( 2004?)

If he couldn't get justice with his credentials, who can? SW has an awful lot to answer for.

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/britains-worst-mass-water-poisoning-1760990

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Douglas_Cross3

Most of my career has been in environmental forensics, ranging across projects, pollution and even pirate attacks. Been held hostage, shot at, poisoned, (several times), and cross-examined by hostile barristers in Courts and Tribunals in sundry places and conditions. Developed new tech, exposed old, discredited the statistics, irritated the hell out of a lot of people but still the Clients come back for more! Call me?
2.19 · BSc (Hons) Zoology, Physiology,, Biochemistry, University of Southampton UK 1964
Click to expand...
Subject: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity International (MCS International) -
London 2003

London 2003 Misdiagnosed Illnesses - what you can do medically and legally.

Despite 300 delegates on day one and 200 on day 2, there was no-one representing any of the official ME charities.

Next time it would be worthwhile the medical advisors attending particularly, as I feel the conference had huge relevance to ME/CFSsufferers.

Not one MP or MEP attended!

It would be good to see links forged with both these charities and ME/CFS charities and groups. Dr. Badsha has offered to be a speaker at any event and share mutual interests. The charities are attempting to
set up a treatment/ therapy centre for the severely affected.

The following link leads to the transcript of this important presentation.

The workshop with Professor Pall was very thought provoking too.

All transcripts are available together with a video which is in preparation. ;

http://www.elc.org.uk/frames/events.htm
 
Not news but I didn't know this had been raised.
A good timeline of events in this BBC piece.
6 July 2018
Camelford water poisoning: Calls for new inquiry
People affected by the UK's worst mass water poisoning are calling for a new inquiry.

Twenty tonnes of aluminium sulphate were tipped into the wrong tank at a treatment works on 6 July 1988, contaminating water to 20,000 homes.

Residents in Camelford, Cornwall, reported a range of health problems, including headaches and stomach cramps.

The government has been approached for a comment on the calls for an independent inquiry.

..
The water was poisoned when a relief delivery driver mistakenly tipped 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate into the wrong tank at Lowermoor water treatment works.

The chemical - used to treat cloudy water - went straight into the town's mains supply.

Despite receiving nearly 1,000 complaints, the then South West Water Authority (SWWA) insisted the water was safe to drink and advised customers to disguise the "foul" taste by mixing it with orange juice.
Click to expand...
Camelford water poisoning: Calls for new inquiry - BBC News

also found this video

The Camelford Poisoning | A Short Documentary | Fascinating Horror - YouTube

see also

The Politics of Poisoning; the Camelford Aluminium Sulphate
Scandal
(PDF) Cross D (1990) The politics of poisoning -The Camelford aluminium sulphate scandal.


 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom