RSS feedLead poisoning at Broken Hill
SMH, Russell Skelton, May 12, 2008
In his Sydney Morning Herald article, Russell Skelton writes: "Figures reveal the number of children with high blood lead levels has increased but government funding for programs to minimise environmental health risks has been slashed. It is understood programs to clean lead-contaminated dust from homes, community housing and public buildings have almost come to a halt. The cost of cleaning has been left to families. The Herald understands that funding for a $1 million environmental clean-up program has been more than halved despite opposition from the Broken Hill council. The funds had been used to clean up and repaint homes where lead levels were highest. The Maari Ma Aboriginal health service is encouraging parents of children with dangerously high concentrations of lead to relocate their children to communities well outside Broken Hill until levels return to acceptable amounts. [ . . . ] Professor David Lyle, the head of the University of Sydney's Broken Hill department of rural health, said that about 25 per cent of indigenous children had high lead blood levels. " Read the full story here . . .
Camberwell reports show need to reject new mines
