Situation

The Port Pirie Smelter has a 120 year-plus history of producing and exporting lead, zinc, silver, gold and copper. It is the largest primary lead smelter in the world.

The lead issue

As part of the production process, fine particles of lead dust can be created that, if transported off site by emissions, wind or people, can adversely affect the health of the local community, but especially younger children 0-4 years of age.

Why is lead in young children such an issue?

Exposure to lead begins before birth through the mother's blood supply. Lead levels can increase rapidly in the first years of life, and usually peak at 18 months.

Blood lead levels of ten micrograms per decilitre can interfere with development, in particular that of the brain and the central nervous system. Infants and young children are affected more than adults as their bodies are not yet fully mature, and are developing very fast.

The reason for this is that lead resembles calcium, and a child's gastrointestinal tract needs to take up calcium at a greater rate than an adult's.

How does lead get into the blood?

In the main, lead enters the body after we've been in contact with lead dust, either via the mouth through ingestion, or by inhalation. This can then cause elevated blood lead levels.

Young children commonly absorb lead through hand to mouth activities, when they place a hand that has come into contact with lead dust either in or to their mouth.

Who is most at risk?

Children under five years, pregnant women and unborn children are particularly vulnerable.

How children are exposed to lead

Port Pirie's dust inevitably contains lead particles, most of which are outdoors, in the air and on the ground – the world where children learn and explore.

So a common way for youngsters to absorb lead, especially when they're outside, is through hand to mouth activities after they've come into contact with dust or dirt that contains small traces of lead.

Because rainwater can also be a source of exposure, it should not be used for either drinking or cooking. And, contrary to popular opinion, boiling water does not reduce the lead contamination, it simply concentrates it.

Although much less common today, exposure can also occur through contact with lead-based paint – mainly found in older homes that were painted pre-1975. Exposure can occur if children swallow paint chips or breathe in dust that has been generated during renovations to those homes.

And, of course, those who work at the smelter can also carry lead particles off site – on their bodies, clothing and possessions – and these can ultimately end up in the home environment. This is why all employees shower before leaving the site and always leave their work clothing on site to be laundered.