The NPC answers calls from all over the country on such things as poisonings involving household commodities, agricultural and industrial chemicals, medicines, cosmetics and poisonous plants, as well as questions about occupational hazards when working with chemicals, management of spills or fires involving chemicals and the disposal of unwanted chemicals.

“With our new 0800 number, we’re hoping that people who in the past may not have called us because of the cost of the toll call, will start to use the free service - but first they have to know about it,” says administrator Lucy Shieffelbien. The centre has a database with information about more than 60,000 chemicals, medicines and plants.

In the past year, the NPC has had 2197 calls from people in Christchurch needing advice and information.