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Friday 20 June 2008

High levels of lead in girl’s bedroom

In May, a Queensland Health report found 11% of the children in Mount Isa had high levels of lead LAWYERS of six-year-old Stella Hare say her bedroom contained more than seven times the safe level of lead recommended by the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency.

Tests commissioned by Slater and Gordon Lawyers showed 3055 micrograms of lead per square metre in the dust in Stella’s bedroom, while the attic above her room had dust containing 4969 micrograms of lead per square metre.

The threshold recommended by Queensland’s Environmental Protection Agency is 400.

The Hare family are currently suingXstrata, Mount Isa City Council and the Queensland government, alleging Stella’s brain and nervous system impairments are linked to lead exposure from the Xstrata operation.

In May 2008, a Queensland Health report found 11% of the children in Mount Isa had high levels of lead in their blood.

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