Nickel found in Hong Kong housing estate’s tap water after lead and cadmium scares, says Democratic Party

Four water samples taken from flats in phases one and two of Wah Fu Estate in Pok Fu Lam contained the heavy metal nickel, a skin irritant, at well above the World Health Organisation standard, the Democratic Party said yesterday.

Although the 20 samples taken were all clear of lead and cadmium, the heavy metals found in water samples from several local estates, the party said four had a nickel content above the WHO guidelines of 70 micrograms per litre of water. In the worst case, it was more than three times that level.

The party said it suspected the contamination at the four flats developed after refurbishment by the Housing Department, and it was now demanding answers from the department.

Nickel may contaminate water through leaching from metals that were in contact with that water, or its presence in groundwater, according to a World Health Organisation report. It said nickel doses in people who developed symptoms ranged from 7 to 35 milligrams per kg of body weight, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches, and shortness of breath.

The most common effect of excessive nickel in the body is allergic contact dermatitis, a skin irritation, according to the WHO.

It was not the first time nickel was detected in tap water samples. The party had previously detected excessive nickel in other public housing estates, including Tai Po’s Kwong Fuk Estate.