SA Health's 2021 annual report on blood lead levels of children in Port Pirie is beginning to show improvements across most blood lead indicators compared to the previous year.
SA Health's Director of Scientific Services, Dr David Simon, said SA Health has been reporting blood lead levels since 1984, and the 2021 annual report provides a snapshot of the last 10 years.
"The results published today show the deterioration reported on in late 2020 and early 2021 may be stabilising, with early indications that improved trends may be starting to resume," Dr Simon said.
"Importantly, we have seen a decrease in the number of children with high blood lead levels equal to and above 20 micrograms per decilitre (µg/dL) and an overall shift downwards of the number of children falling into the higher categories.
"It is too early to predict if this trend will continue but we are cautiously optimistic that these results may indicate a gradual reduction in the exposure of children to lead.
"These results may reflect ongoing improvements in practices that reduce lead dust from smelter emissions as well as legacy lead in the community from the long history of smelter operations in the area.
"Families are doing an excellent job in reducing their children's exposure to lead but sustaining improved lead-in-air levels alongside effective management of lead in the community, is key to keeping blood lead levels low.
"We welcome the newly reconfigured Targeted Lead Abatement Program (TLAP) Board that will strengthen how our key groups work together across agencies in reducing lead in the community."
The number of children in Port Pirie with blood lead levels above the National Health and Medical Research Council's lead exposure investigation level of five µg/dL remains a concern.
To limit exposure and to keep blood lead levels as low as possible in Port Pirie, SA Health and the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network Environmental Health Centre provide voluntary blood lead screening to the Port Pirie community in partnership with TLAP. This includes offers of various lead-exposure interventions and customised support to families, as well as community-wide education and awareness programs.
