Contamination
Our Changing World – Lead bullets and their risk to human health
Humanity has had a long and vexed relationship with the element lead. The problem is the stuff is terribly useful – and terribly toxic. Think Roman water pipes, lead paint, lead petrol. Now, new… Audio
Contaminated sites in Northland, Manawatū cleaned up
Hazardous waste has been removed from a site in Ruakākā and a new water reservoir in Ōhakea is nearing completion.
Why you'll need to quarantine before going to Mars
Writer and podcaster Nicola Twilley's latest book, co-authored with husband Geoff Manaugh, is Until Proven Safe: The History and Future of Quarantine. She joins the show to discuss the importance of… Audio
Covid-19 update with professor Michael Baker
Six new Covid-19 cases in the community as of yesterday, four linked to the existing Auckland cluster and the origin of the other two cases is being looked into. Professor Michael Baker is back for… Audio
Johan Giesecke: Why lockdowns are the wrong approach
Professor Johan Giesecke is one of the world's most senior epidemiologists. He believes lockdowns like the one we've just had in New Zealand are just a way of delaying the inevitable. Professor… Audio
The deadly superbugs lurking in your makeup bag
If your lipstick or mascara is too old, it could well be carrying E. coli or staph bacteria, according to a new UK study.Biomedical science lecturer – and makeup fan Dr Amreen Bashir – talks about her… Audio
Concerns over lead in Canada's water supplies
A large investigation into Canada's drinking water has raised concerns about lead contamination. Out of 12,000 tests since 2014, a third exceeded the national safety guideline of 5 parts per billion… Audio
HNZ tenants booted out over meth tests to have debts wiped
Housing New Zealand tenants evicted over bogus methamphetamine testing will have some of their debts wiped by the government, including the costs they incurred for emergency housing. Today Social… Video, Audio
MPI calls on consumers to report concerns about food tampering
MPI's director of food regulation Paul Dansted is calling on consumers to report their concerns about food tampering here after strawberries, bananas, and apples have fallen victim to industrial… Video, Audio
NZ supermarkets stop strawberry imports after needle scare
New Zealand supermarkets have stopped importing strawberries grown across in Australia after sewing needles were found in the berries in a spreading contamination scare. Audio
Residents alerted to toxic foam contamination
Farms and lifestyle blocks beside Palmerston North Airport are being alerted to firefighting foam contamination in waterways.
Australians alerted before NZ on foam contamination
The Defence Force told the Australian military it had contaminated water at its bases months before it alerted the New Zealand public. Newly released emails also show NZDF gave the Australians a heads… Audio
Shell contaminates Taranaki streams with toxic foam
The oil company Shell has contaminated groundwater in New Plymouth using a firefighting foam banned in New Zealand 12 years ago. It only stopped using the foam containing damaging PFOS in March when… Audio
Toxic foam: Council questions type of testing
A central North Island regional council is asking questions about the type of testing being done to detect firefighting foam contamination. Audio
Communities could sue Defence Force over toxic firefighting foam
The Government is investigating potential contamination near the Defence Force bases at Woodbourne and Ohakea. Meanwhile, in Australia, a community is sueing the Defence Force over similar… Audio
Ecologist say ignoring land use effects on water fatal flaw
A freshwater ecologist says avoiding the effects of dairy farming on water quality could be a fatal flaw of the inquiry into the Havelock North water crisis. Audio
Meth warning for homeowners
A property lawyer says home buyers should have "meth test" provisions in their purchase agreements, given the drug's widespread use. Kathryn Ryan talks to Auckland property lawyer Linda Fox and Dr… Audio
Hawke's Bay water contamination
Giardia and cryptosporidium may now be the added to the contamination soup of Hawke's Bay water. Audio
Expert questions meth contamination evictions
A scientist has serious concerns about the tests that lead to fines and evictions for contaminating state houses with methamphetamine.
The Toxic Go-Slow: Has the clean-up of New Zealand's most poisoned places stalled?
Ian Telfer explores whether efforts to clean-up the toxic legacies of New Zealand's industrial past have stalled. Video, Audio
