Study suggests playgrounds a source of lead exposure in Port Pirie

A study led by researchers from Macquarie University indicates that public playgrounds could be a key source of lead exposure for children living in Port Pirie.

The research, published today in the journal Environmental Pollution, measured lead and other metals in the air, soil and on the surface of playground equipment and then assessed the amount of lead on the children's hands before and after play.

Commenting on the findings, independent expert and report lead author, Professor Chris Winder, Professor of Toxicology and occupational Health and Safety at the Australian Catholic University, stated "Port Pirie remains a heavily contaminated city from over 120 years of emissions from its lead smelter.

"This paper reinforces the impact of the smelter on the local community, by measuring the lead in children's playgrounds in Port Pirie. As expected, soil and surfaces in playgrounds closer to the smelter have higher lead concentrations.

"However, more importantly, this paper developed a technique of simulating a child's play activities and measuring exposure using hand wipes. There was a huge increase in lead on skin between pre and post play. The source? Lead emissions from the smelter. These fall on all surfaces in the town and the exposure will continue as long as the smelter regards pollution of the environment and the local community as acceptable practice."

Professor Mark Patrick Taylor, Professor of Environmental Science in the Faculty of Science at Macquarie University, added "this study examines exposure risks associated with lead smelter emissions at children's public playgrounds in Port Pirie, South Australia. Lead and other metal values were measured in air, soil, surface dust and pre- and post-play hand wipes. Playgrounds closest to the smelter were significantly more lead contaminated (including other metal values) compared to those further away.

"Further, the study showed clearly that Port Pirie post-play hand wipes contained significantly higher lead loadings than the control site at Port Augusta some 85 kms to the north of Port Pirie. The values of lead, arsenic and cadmium in dust found on hands after play and on surfaces at the playground exceeded in most cases national and international standards very significantly.

"The study showed clearly that the hand and surface lead dust measures were strongly related to air lead values. Contaminated dust from smelter emissions is determined as the source and cause of childhood lead poisoning at a rate of approximately one child every third day. The ongoing emissions will continue to pose a significant threat to childhood health until the smelter is replaced and other sources of environmental exposure in the city are remediated properly."

Mark P. Taylor is an elected committee member and member of the Technical Advisory Board for the Lead Group Inc. He receives no payment or other financial benefit for this work.

The Lead Group Inc is a not-for-profit community organisation that develops and provides information and referrals on lead poisoning and lead contamination prevention and management.

The report, Environmental lead exposure risks associated with children's outdoor playgrounds is published in Environmental Pollution, issue 178, 2013.

For more information go to www.journals.elsevier.com/environmental-pollution/

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