Lead in children lawsuits against Xstrata in Mount Isa

A SERIES of lawsuits is looming against Swiss mining giant Xstrata after blood tests revealed widespread lead poisoning among the children.

A SERIES of lawsuits is looming against Swiss mining giant Xstrata after blood tests around its Mount Isa operations revealed widespread lead poisoning among the children of the central Queensland town.

The legal action over the alleged metal contamination in the Queensland mining capital comes ahead of the release next month of a Queensland Health report that is understood to show dangerously high levels of lead in more than 10 per cent of the town's children.

Ordered in late 2006 after The Australian revealed new evidence of metal contamination of soils and water, the study shows at least 45 children have lead blood levels that could damage intellectual and behavioural development.

The Queensland Government has already moved to repeal exemptions to environmental standards granted to the Mount Isa hardrock mine and smelters by the Bjelke-Petersen government.

A test case involving mother Daphne Hare, on behalf of her six-year-old daughter, Stella, is now being prepared by leading lawyers Slater & Gordon.

For Ms Hare, the damages claim - the first of several being prepared over metal contamination in and around Mount Isa - is aimed at stopping an alleged "cover-up" of the cause of ill health and developmental problems suffered by her only child and others who have grown up in the shadow of the mine.

Last week, a toxicology report, from one of the most respected laboratories in the US, confirmed the worst.

Stella - who suffers learning and behavioural problems and had a melanoma removed from her leg this year - recorded dangerously high levels of lead in her body, as well as high levels of more than 10 other metals.

According to the report, her blood lead levels over a three-month period averaged 17micrograms per decilitre (one-tenth of a litre). Studies in Australia and the US have linked blood levels of 10 micrograms per decilitre to intellectual and behaviour difficulties in youngsters.

Body: Queensland Health screening has found 45 children testing above 10 micrograms, with nine above 15, two above 20 and one registering 31.5.

The legal action by Ms Hare and lawyer Damian Scattini, of Slater & Gordon, is the culmination of a debate over the health impact of the mine and the town's copper and lead smelters that has raged in recent years.

Independent studies have indicated widespread heavy metal contamination, continuing environmental standards exemptions, and a failure to test the soil and local water since 1990.

Ms Hare said the legal action was needed to reveal the truth about the dangers facing the town's children. "I know I am not going to be popular, but there is so little awareness, so little information," she said. "I have a child that has learning and behavioural problems and I will do anything to protect her and the other kids."

In September 2006, Queensland Health ordered the blood screening of 400 of Mount Isa's children after a story in The Australian raised concerns about lead poisoning. It is finalising the report ahead of a public forum in Mount Isa next month.

The Queensland Government last month announced it was repealing special status granted to some mines - including Mount Isa - by the Bjelke-Petersen government that exempted them from having to operate under the environmental standards that apply to 1200 other mines in the state.

A spokeswoman for Xstrata yesterday said she was unaware of the looming legal action but stressed that the mining company had reduced its emissions.

"Xstrata Mount Isa Mines is not aware of any case pending at this time, however, the health of our community and employees is Xstrata's number one priority," she said.

Mr Scattini last night said the legal action was intended to ensure Xstrata bore the cost of its"toxic mess and not the families and future generations of Mount Isa". "Xstrata is heavily subsidised by the people of Queensland for the profits of its shareholders in Switzerland," he said. "In return, they force the children of Mount Isa to eat, drink, breathe, bathe and play in the toxic waste that Xstrata creates but won't pay to clean up."