Dolphin residents sick waiting for healthy homes
28 Mar 2011
Over 40% of adults and children living in Dolphin House estate have trouble breathing easily and over 90% are worried about their health because of the persistence of damp and sewerage in their homes, according to a latest survey published today.
Over 60% reported that their illness developed or worsened only since moving into a flat with damp, mould or sewerage. A new analysis of damp and mould concluded that living in Dolphin is bad for your health. In particular, it showed a continuing high presence of the mould spore Aspergillus Fumigatus which is known to cause a range of lung ailments.
The residents claim that this daily health risk is a blatant violation of their right to adequate housing, as set out under UN law. They called for a commitment from the Department of Environment that it will fund the regeneration of Dolphin.
They also confirmed that engineering and legal advice suggests that the condensation problems may be direcly linked to the structure of the buildings rather then the residents' behaviour, as Dublin City Council has claimed to date. If this proves true, repairs because of condensation will be the responsibility of the Council, not the tenant, as is the case now.
"The frustration residents feel at the lack of progress on very basic human living standards is palpable on the doorsteps," said Rory Hearne of Rialto Rights in Action Group. "The link to ill-health is particularly worrying and unacceptable. A home is meant to be a safe place to live, not a health hazard. Residents are also reporting that their doctors are concerned about them living in such conditions."
"Whilst regeneration is ultimately the solution," he continued. "It is essential the environmental conditions are improved immediately so that this can be a healthy community."
The survey results were central to a human rights Q&A held at the estate today with panel members Maurice Manning, President of the Irish Human Rights Commission, Sara Burke, health policy analyst and Professor Lorna Fox O'Mahony who specialises in the legal concept of home. The Q&A was chaired by Dr. Fiona DeLondras of UCD School of Law.
The survey of 60 flats - representing nearly 1 in 7 flats - is the third such survey to be carried out since last May 2010 when the residents first held a human rights hearing about their dire housing conditions. Then, they set targets for improvements across eight indicators to ensure compliance with the UN's standards of adequate housing. Those indicators included tracking exposure to damp, sewerage, as well as health and contact with Dublin City Council.
Dublin City Council responded initially to the residents requests. Mr Ciaran McNamara, then Assistant City Manager, gave an undertaking that the issues of damp and waste-water would be addressed as a matter of urgency. However, since October 2010, no senior maintenance or engineering official has attended resident meetings, despite numerous requests.
Dublin City Council has installed ventilators in a number of pilot flats. While a proper analysis of their impact is awaited, anecdotally it appears they have not been successful. In addition, a programme of jetting pipes has begun to ensure greater flow of wastewater. It is too early to judge whether it will solve the sewerage backflow into baths, sinks and toilets, according to Hearne.
For more information contact:
Edel Hackett, Public Communications Centre Tel: 087-2935207
Going Nowhere Fast
- Number of residents reporting dampness
Benchmark (May 2010) 72%
Target now 30%
Actual Result 77% - Number of residents reporting mould
Benchmark (May 2010) 64%
Target now 20%
Actual Result 68% - Number of residents reporting sewerage/smells
Benchmark 89%
Target now 20%
Actual Result 82% - Number of residents concerned about health
Benchmark 91%
Target now 20%
Actual Result 90%
Three Independent Analyses Carried Out
- March 2011, Mould Busters - Nature and extent of mould poses a potential health risk to the occupants.
- August 2010, Tobin Engineering - "Wastewater" contains level of faecal coliforms found only in raw sewerage and 570 million times over allowable limit for drinking water.
- May 2010, NUIG Biology Department - Level of Aspergillus fumigatus fungus at level present in most houses could cause a deterioration in asthma and bronchitis.