Blood lead levels in Port Pirie

Steady Progress on Port Pirie blood-lead levels - Hon John Hill

Results for 2008 show that approximately 65% of children tested recorded a blood lead level less than 10 micrograms per decilitre - This is almost an 8% improvement on the 2007 results.

In addition, the number of children with blood lead levels above 20 micrograms per decilitre has shown particular improvement reducing from 56 children in 2007 to 30 children in 2008.

Extensive community education and awareness programs have had the effect of increasing people's understanding of the interaction of lead dust in the environment and how to limit children's exposure to lead dust within the home.

Blood Lead Levels in Port Pirie prior to tenby10

The lead issue in Port Pirie first came to the fore in March 1984, when the SA State Government moved to address the lead issue in a proactive way and opened the Environmental Health Centre to deliver the Port Pirie Lead Implementation Program.

The Centre carried out its first cycle of blood lead screening of children under seven years of age in 1984-85. Results indicated that a mere 2% of the children had a blood lead level less than 10 micrograms per deciliter.

The Environmental Health Centre, the Port Pirie Regional Council and the State Government, with the support of the Smelter, started work on a decontamination program, which involved purchasing and demolishing approximately 100 sub-standard houses, relocating families living close to the Smelter and upgrading many kilometres of roads and footpaths. By June 1994, more than 2,000 homes had been decontaminated. Old lead-based paint was stripped away, carpets cleaned, ceilings sealed and repaired and the spaces above them vacuumed, soil was replaced and house interiors and exteriors were relined, reclad or repainted.

The State Government spent approximately $27 million on the decontamination program and the average blood lead level of children under seven years of age was reduced by a third.

The Smelter contributed by meeting the cost of analysing rainwater and blood samples and accepting contaminated materials onto its site, burying it out of harm's way, to make sure none of the contaminated materials would be recycled. The Smelter also began work on a range of projects to reduce emissions.

In 2000, analysis of emissions from the Smelter and blood lead screening results highlighted the importance of further reducing lead emissions from the Smelter in tandem with educating and supporting the community to reduce exposure of children to lead inside and outside the home.

The Environmental Health Centre subsequently narrowed its focus to concentrate on pregnant women and children under five years of age. In addition, further research was conducted to examine sources and pathways of lead contamination and exposure in the home environment. The findings from these studies were used to develop new educational resources.

By 2005, however, it was clear that no one organisation alone could achieve the significant reduction in children's blood lead levels that was required in Port Pirie. Everyone needed to work more closely together and share information, experience and knowledge.