The cleaning up process of one of New Zealand's most polluted areas will most probably have no long-term health effects, as has been stressed by the Ministry of Health.

Today, the Ministry officially released a report which looked into the effects of soil remediation, which is process to neutralize chemicals, at Mapua, which is located near Nelson.

The site of 3.3ha, near Mapua wharf, is inclusive of the former Fruitgrowers Chemical Company and the neighboring land. For about 55 years, the firm had manufactured pesticides on the site, which has ended up leaving the soil highly contaminated with chemicals like very toxic pesticide DDT.

The report, which has come as the latest in a range of Government probes into the area, was delayed after the death of an important scientist.

The report has concluded that the area was unlikely to produce any long-term ill effects on peoples' health, and also made recommendations to "further reduce any remaining uncertainty".