Port Pirie lead levels put smelter on notice

Monitoring of lead levels among Port Pirie’s children show an alarming rise that has serious health ramifications.

The Nyrstar lead smelter at Port Pirie. Picture: Karen Seindanis

There are a “concerning” number of children at higher risk of serious health effects from the operation of Port Pirie’s lead smelter, the latest lead-in-air tests for the industrial South Australian city show.

SA Health yesterday published its third-quarter analysis of blood lead levels in children in Port Pirie, 230km north of Adelaide. Average blood test results for two-year-olds, the most reliable indicator of lead exposure for the population, showed an increase of 0.4 micrograms per decilitre to an average of 5.8.

The number of children at high risk of health effects with blood lead levels above 20 micrograms increased to 12 children, compared with seven in the third quarter of last year.

The National Health and Medical Research Council warned that blood lead levels above 10 micrograms can have harmful effects. Levels greater than five micrograms, particularly in children and pregnant women, need to be reduced.

SA Health’s scientific services director David Simon said the results were concerning but not unexpected given the recent rise in lead-in-air emissions and the difficulty smelter operator Nyrstar has had in controlling emissions during its redevelopment.

The Belgian metals giant is dangerously close to breaching its licence conditions.

“All families with a child with blood lead levels of five micrograms or above receive support to lower lead exposure,” Dr Simon said.

“Case workers work intensively with those with blood lead levels of 20 micrograms or above to provide tailored interventions.

“While the results are dis­appointing, the 12-month report is the best indicator of blood lead levels so we will have a better understanding once that is complete early next year.”

Environment Protection Authority science director Keith Baldry said while Nyrstar was compliant with its ­licence, the agency was concerned about an increase in emissions.

The findings come days after Nyrstar’s chief, Hilmar Rode, visited Port Pirie to discuss the company’s plans, which include 120 job losses next year.

The company is locked in talks with the state government about repaying more than $290m in debt guaranteed by taxpayers.