Spike in emissions puts Port Pirie lead smelter’s licence at risk

The operator of Port Pirie’s lead smelter is dangerously close to breaching its licence conditions.

SA Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs.

The operator of Port Pirie’s lead smelter is dangerously close to breaching its licence conditions, with the latest lead-in-air tests for the industrial South Australian city at more than four-year highs.

The release yesterday of latest data from the September quarter comes after Belgian metals giant Nyrstar last week ordered its workforce in Port Pirie, 230km north of Adelaide, away from ­normal duties to clean up its site, which is laden with fine lead dust that is carried into the community by wind.

At the end of each quarter, Nyrstar must meet a rolling 12-month average of lead-in-air ­levels below 0.5 micrograms per cubic metre at two compliance sites in Port Pirie.

The September readings of 0.48 and 0.47 micrograms continued an upward trend that, if not arrested this quarter, would put the company’s licence to operate in jeopardy.

In August, SA Health revealed the average blood-lead level for Port Pirie children tested at two years old — when brain development is at its most crucial stage — had increased in the June quarter.

South Australian Environment Minister David Speirs said the September results were “higher than we would like to see”.

“The lead levels are something that requires ongoing control and I am satisfied with the work the EPA is doing with Nyrstar to reduce lead emission levels,” he said.

“While Nyrstar is compliant with its licence, it is important that Nyrstar does everything reasonable and practicable to control its emissions.”

In a statement last week, the company said that current lead-in-air levels were a result of its old plant and new plant running ­concurrently.