The Pan American Health Organization has issued an Arsenic Exposure Preliminary Report to the 14.5-acre Powell family farm in Frank Sound, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. It points to no significant differences between the arsenic content of soils from the test site and control/background sites used as a comparison.

Summary Points from Report

Baseline ranges of arsenic exposure used in the Cayman Islands investigation are conservative.

1. While the study is ongoing, this preliminary report is being released to alleviate concerns of the families potentially exposed to arsenic.

2. The report conclusively deals with the health assessment of families in the potential arsenic exposure area.

3. The investigation of the environment samples to assess the level of arsenic is still ongoing and is expected to be completed by mid-December 2015.

4. Scientific investigations by the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) suggest that the health of the families is not affected by this potential exposure to the arsenic.

5. The report has found differences in arsenic levels from families in the potential exposure area and the persons in the control areas, but again, they are not at levels to cause any health concerns. Arsenic is an element that naturally occurs everywhere including in our bodies, the foods that we eat, and the earth’s crust.

6. When the report mentions “statistically significant” levels of arsenic exposure, it should be noted that “significant” in this context does not mean an overabundance of exposure but that there is a difference between the two groups.

7. While the report talks about remediation, it is to be noted that in the final result there may not be a need for remediation since this is a preliminary report relating to the health aspects only and the completion of the environmental investigations is forthcoming. The authorities will rely on the consultants’ advice when the environmental factors are fully analysed and quantified.

8. The consultants recommend that follow-up consultations with the families concerned be done in one year, and reassessment as needed, depending on the outcome of these consultations.

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