10.25905/5cbfb39f7ad66
Mark Taylor
Mark
Taylor
Cynthia Isley
Cynthia
Isley
John Glover
John
Glover
Prevalence of childhood lead poisoning and respiratory disease associated with lead smelter emissions
Torrens University Australia
2019
Air quality
Children
Lead exposure
Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Respiratory disease
Respiratory Diseases
2019-04-24 00:53:49
Journal contribution
https://torrens.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Prevalence_of_childhood_lead_poisoning_and_respiratory_disease_associated_with_lead_smelter_emissions/8030765
<p>Background</p>
<p>The city of Port Pirie in South Australia has been a world
leading centre for lead and zinc smelting and processing since 1889 that
continues to cause contamination of its environment and resident population.
This study quantifies the effect of lead and SO2 emissions from Nyrstar Port
Pirie Pty Ltd's smelter on blood lead and respiratory health outcomes,
respectively, and establishes what air quality values are required to better
protect human health.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Method</p>
<p>Blood lead and emergency department presentation data
collected by South Australia Health (SA Health) and lead in air and SO2 data
collected by the South Australian Environment Protection Authority (SAEPA) were
obtained and analysed to quantify health outcomes due to smelter emissions in
Port Pirie. Regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the
concentration of lead in air and children's blood lead levels between the years
of available data: 2003 to 2017. Ambient SO2 concentrations (SAEPA) measured
continuously between 2008 and 2018 were 24-hour averaged and compared to daily
local emergency department respiratory presentation rates (available from July
2012 to October 2018). Rates of emergency department respiratory presentations
at Port Pirie and regional comparators were calculated as age-standardised
rates.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Results</p>
<p>The data show that increases in ambient SO2 concentrations
are associated with increased rates of emergency department respiratory
presentations of Port Pirie residents, in which children are over-represented.
The 30-day rolling average of respiratory presentations was significantly
associated (p < 0.05) with incremental increases in SO2. Analysis of the
relationship between lead in air and blood lead shows that annual geometric
mean air lead concentrations need to be <0.11 μg/m3 to ensure the geometric
mean blood lead of Port Pirie children under 5 years is ≤5 μg/dL. For children
aged 24 months, lead in air needs to be no greater than 0.082 μg/m3 (annual
geometric mean) to ensure geometric mean blood lead does not exceed 5 μg/dL.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Conclusion</p>
<p>Current smelting emissions continue to pose a clear risk of
harm to Port Pirie children. Allowable emissions must be lowered significantly
to limit adverse childhood health outcomes including respiratory illness and
IQ, academic achievement and socio-behavioural problems that are associated
with lead exposure at levels experienced by Port Pirie children. Current SO2
levels are likely to be responsible for increased rates of emergency department
respiratory presentations in Port Pirie compared with other South Australian
locations. As a minimum, Australian SO2 air quality standards need to be
enforced in Port Pirie to better protect human health. Lead in air needs to be
approximately 80% lower than the current national standard (0.5 μg/m3) to
ensure that the geometric blood lead of children under 5 years is less than or
equal to 5 μg/dL.</p><p><br></p><p>Environment International Volume 127, June 2019, Pages
340-352</p><p><br></p>