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The LEAD Group Inc
The Lead Education and Abatement Design Group
Working to eliminate lead poisoning globally and to protect the
environment from lead in all its uses: past, current and new uses
ABN 25 819 463 114
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Keeping Australian Lead Out of Leaded Petrol Initiative.

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The LEAD Group would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) in helping to make its services possible. DEWHA has provided funding for 12 months ending 30th June 2010. (See disclaimer, and the factsheet "About the Global Lead Advice and Support Service (GLASS)" plus the factsheet "How would you know if you or your child is lead poisoned?). We hope this 7 point plan will help you find your way around the information on our website www.lead.org.au. e.g. see the factsheet (and application for membership and donation form) called "About The LEAD Group" to find out who has written all this information and what else we might be able to help each other with. If you have any further enquiries please phone or use the contact form on our website.

7 Point Plan for the MANAGEMENT OF LEAD by Australian parents and carers:

Lead Flow Chart - Major Pathways of Childhood Lead Poisoning

Petrol   arror.gif (1347 bytes)

Paint            arrow.gif (1206 bytes) Surfaces arrow.gif (1206 bytes) Hands arrow.gif (1206 bytes) Mouth arrow.gif (1206 bytes) Blood arrow.gif (1206 bytes) Bones & Teeth

Industry arrol.gif (1353 bytes)

How to prevent childhood lead poisoning by intervention at the seven points in the Lead Flow Chart:

Even though you may only have inquired about one aspect of lead poisoning prevention, we are providing information on numerous aspects of the problem, in the hope that you will find the holistic approach useful, and that you will realise how powerful you are personally in reducing the toxic chemical load on people (especially children) and the environment, now and in the future.

Point 1: Petrol arrow.gif (1206 bytes) Surfaces. Australia reduced the amount of lead in petrol in 1993 and phased out leaded petrol by 1st January 2002 but stopping the flow of lead from petrol into the environment does nothing to reduce the historical lead contamination from petrol. Australia reduced the amount of lead in petrol in 1993 and phased out leaded petrol by 1st January 2002 but stopping the flow of lead from petrol into the environment does nothing to reduce the historical lead contamination from petrol.

  • Do not undertake servicing or dismantling of old cars on your property;
  • Avoid homes or child-care within 10-20 m of major roads;
  • Lead from petrol and other sources builds up in the ceiling dust in old houses and can be an ongoing source (through cracks, ceiling roses, etc) or sudden source (if the ceiling falls down or is demolished) of lead contamination of house dust. Leaded ceiling dust is just another reason (apart from leaded paint) that renovation is the most likely cause of childhood lead poisoning. See the NSW government factsheet "Lead Safe: Lead in Ceiling Dust". See the website of the Australian Dust Removalists Association (ADRA), www.adra.com.au for specialists in ceiling dust removal, in NSW. Do not attempt ceiling dust removal yourself.

Point 2: Paint arrow.gif (1206 bytes) Surfaces - to stop lead particles from paint getting onto surfaces that children might touch: - to stop lead particles from paint getting onto surfaces that children might touch:

  • Test for lead in any pre-1970 deteriorated paint (see Point 4 for test procedures);
  • Use barrier methods and consistent clean-up until safe removal can be organised;
  • Negotiate a contract with a professional renovator with experience (preferably training) in lead paint removal to remove lead paint hazards, guaranteeing no dispersal of lead, and approved disposal of contaminated debris;
  • Protect children, women of reproductive capacity and pets from renovation works. See the two booklets "Lead alert: 6 Step Guide to Painting your Home": and " Lead Safe - A Renovator's Guide To The Dangers Of Lead "
  • Call on your state parliamentarians to institute training and licensing for lead abatement (paint removal) contractors and lead assessors, and for Certificates of Lead Safety for houses and childcare premises.

Point 3: Industry arrow.gif (1206 bytes) Surfaces

  • Avoid homes and child-care near lead industry;
  • Reduce your use and purchase of all lead products and lead-containing products like cars and contribute to maximum possible recycling rates for lead, e.g. car batteries, light bulbs, flashing, pipes, wheel balancing weights;
  • As lead is one of the toxic emissions from coal burning power stations, reduce your electricity use.

Point 4: Surfaces arrow.gif (1206 bytes) Hands. Whether the source is petrol, paint or industry, the major pathway of lead poisoning is via soil and dust (residual) contamination, to surfaces and then from hands to mouth. To stop lead getting from surfaces to hands:

  • Have your home or childcare centre assessed for lead contamination. See the list of NSW lead assessors at www.lead.org.au/clp/assessorsnsw.html or if you suspect that you know the source of lead and do not want to engage an assessor to come out to the house,
  • phone JBS on 02 8338 1011 and purchase a Do-It-Yourself Lead Safe Test Kit with sampling instructions for sending soil, dust or paint for lead content analysis to Sydney Analytical Laboratories. This is an independent NATA accredited lab which then sends the results to JBS who writes you an interpretation and plan for reducing lead risks. Lead test kits which change colour to show if lead is present in paint or ceramics etc are available from some hardware stores and paint trade centres.
  • Industrial HEPA vacuum, wet down and then remove old carpets, replace with washable hard surfaces;
  • Carpets which remain, and drapes and soft furnishings can be deleaded on the surface by Elite Maintenance Service Pty Ltd (ph 131580). Carpets should be vacuumed with a HEPA-vacuum or when children are out of the room, and Elite-cleaned every 3 months. Do not put vacuum cleaner dust in your compost or worm farm;
  • Wet wipe, using liquid sugar soap and a sponge or mop, all hard surfaces your child may contact, at least fortnightly, and preferably twice weekly or even daily during the crawling phase;
  • Stop track-in of dust or soil by placing washable mats or wet towels at the front and back doors;
  • Cover bare soil with grass or more permanent barriers like rubber mats that let the grass grow through, gravel, etc;
  • Mop paths, verandahs. See the fact sheet "Lead Aware housekeeping and childcare" and "Lead Poisoning - A Guide For Families" at
  • Before purchasing a house which is likely to be lead contaminated, have a lead assessment done and negotiate a fair price for the house taking into account the cost of remedying lead hazards.

Point 5: Hands arrow.gif (1206 bytes) Mouth

  • Wash children's hands constantly;
  • Use a brush to clean under fingernails;
  • Don't allow children to eat away from the table;
  • Pin dummies to clothing;
  • Ensure supervision sufficient to prevent the child eating old paint or contaminated soil.

Point 6: Mouth arrow.gif (1206 bytes) Blood. Many individual factors influence what percentage of the lead that is eaten is absorbed from the gut, e.g. an empty stomach absorbs far more lead than a full one, children absorb 5 times more of the lead in the gut than adults. To minimise lead absorption:

  • Ensure adequate iron, calcium, zinc, Vit C, protein and omega 3 fatty acids in the diet, especially iron (see "Are you getting enough iron?" and "Is your baby getting enough iron?");
  • Ensure that fatty fast foods (high in omega 6 fatty acids) are not consumed too frequently;
  • Stick to the good food pyramid.
  • Ensure children have frequent small meals, especially before playing in the morning.
  • Testing the blood for lead is the best way of assessing recent exposure (over the last 3 months) to lead. See "Rotary CHILDHOOD LEAD EXPOSURE RISK FACTOR QUESTIONNAIRE & MESSAGE TO DOCTORS" by The LEAD Group. To gain some understanding of the wide range of health effects of increasing blood lead levels, see the factsheet: "Health Impacts of Lead Poisoning"

Point 7: Blood arrow.gif (1206 bytes) Bones and Teeth

  • Fruits with lots of pectin eg apples and pears, MAY reduce blood lead levels, ie after lead has already been absorbed from the gut. Eating fruit with lots of pectin can't hurt;
  • Ensure prospective parents' blood lead levels are normal (below 10 µg/dL) before a baby is conceived, and for men for 4 months before a baby is conceived in order to avoid fertility problems or passing on lead to the foetus;
  • Testing children's shed baby teeth for lead is the best way to assess the child's lead exposure at the time of the development of the teeth, which happens to coincide with the early years of life when children are high-risk for ingesting and absorbing lead and high sensitivity to the effects of lead. Tooth lead analysis   Hair lead tests are uninterpretable.

[DISCLAIMER: Our policy is to give you all the information available to us which you might need to make informed decisions about lead hazards. The information and advice given by the Global Lead Advice & Support Service (GLASS) is given in good faith, but with no responsibility taken]

The LEAD Group Inc is endorsed as an Income Tax Exempt Charitable entity under subdivision 50-B of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.
The Lead Education and Abatement Fund (L.E.A.F) is a public fund listed on the
Register of Environmental Organisations under Item 6.1.1 of subsection 30-55(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient under subdivision 30-BA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

The LEAD Group Inc. Fact Sheet Index

NSW Lead Reference Centre and NSW Government Publications On this site

  1. About the Global Lead Advice and Support Service (GLASS)

  2. Main Sources of Lead

  3. How Would You Know If You or Your Child Was lead poisoned?

  4. Lead aware housekeeping

  5. Ceiling dust & lead poisoning

  6. Is your yard lead safe?
    你的院子是铅安全的吗

  7. Health Impacts of lead poisoning

  8. Rotary Questionnaire

  9. Lead poisoned Pets and Your Family

  10. Childhood Lead Poisoning Risk Factor Questionnaire

  11. Is Your Child Safe From Lead? - What Can You Do About Lead?

  12. Lead in Drinking Water in Australia

  13. Have We Really Resolved The Lead Issue?

  14. The Importance of the Availability of "Spot Tests" for Lead in Paint

  15. Pregnant or Planning a Pregnancy

  16. Breastfeeding and Lead

  17. Lead in breast milk

  18. Beware The Lead In Lead Lighting

  19. Renting and Lead

  20. What to do if you have too much lead in your tank water

  21. Lead Contamination in Stormwater

  22. Contamination At Shooting Ranges

  23. Banned: Leaded Wick Candles

  24. Lead, Ageing and Death
    铅,衰老和死亡

  25. Metal miniatures: How to minimise the risks of lead poisoning and contamination

  26. 7 Point Plan for the MANAGEMENT OF LEAD by Australian parents and carers

  27. Countries where Leaded Petrol is Possibly Still Sold for Road Use, As at 17th June 2011

  28. Lead Poisoning And The Brain - Cognitive Deficits And Mental Illness

  29. Facts and Firsts of Lead

  30. Lead mining royalties by state and territory

  31. Lead Mining Stewardship - Grey Lead and the Role of The LEAD Group

  32. Preventative Strategies of The LEAD Group

  33. What do Doctors need to do about Lead?

  34. A Naturopath's Experience Of Lead & People With Diagnosed Mental Illness

  35. Case File: Helping Manage Australian Lead in Petrol - How GLASS Works

  36. Glass Web & Service-Users, Experts & Volunteers, by Country; Countries with Leaded Petrol for Road Use & Worst Pollution

  37. Lead in ceiling dust

  38. Lead paint & ceiling dust management - how to do it lead-safely

  39. Esperance parliamentary inquiry follow-up factsheet: Where to from Here??
    埃斯佩兰斯议会调查后续情况说明书:从这里去哪里??

  40. Broken Hill lead miners factsheet 1893 with Note 20081015

  41. Helping a Doctor Help 35,000 Lead-Poisoned People Around the Lead Smelter at La Oroya in Peru
    Ayuda a un doctor que ayuda 35,000 personas envenenadas por plomo alrededor de la fundidora de plomo en la Oroya-Peru
    案例档案:帮助一个医生救助在秘鲁的拉奥罗亚的铅冶炼厂周围的35000铅中毒的人民全球铅咨询和支持的服务机构是怎末工作的

  42. Fact sheet for Australian toy importers and traders

  43. Iron Nutrition & Lead Toxicity
    Informe de Acciones – Hierro y Plomo en la Nutrición
    情况说明书铁的营养和铅的毒性

  44. Sanitarium-Are You getting Enough Iron

  45. Do-It-Yourself-Lead-Safe-Test-Kits-flyer

  46. Blood lead testing: who to test, when, and how to respond to the result

  47. Dangers of a blood lead level above 2 µg/dL and below 10 µg/dL to both adults and children
    血铅水平高于
    2微克/分升和低于10微克/分升对予成人和儿童的危险。

  48. Lead Exposure & Alzheimer’s Disease: Is There A Link?

  49. In CHINA - Blood lead testing: who to test, when, and how to respond to the result
    在中国血铅测试:谁应该去检查,什么时候,如何对待不同的测试结果

  50. Why you should have your ceiling dust removed before you take advantage of the Australian government's Energy Efficient Homes Package: Insulation Program

  51. Alperstein et al Lead Alert - A Guide For Health Professionals 1994

  52. Ceiling Dust WorkCover Guide Lee Schreiber Final Nov 1999

  53. What can I do about climate change AND lead?

  54. The Need for Expert Clinical Assessments in Diagnosis Of Heavy Metal Poisoning

  55. Why you should have your ceiling dust removed before you have insulation installed

  56. Thirty Thought-Starters on Ceiling Void Dust in Homes

  57. Pectin: Panacea for both lead poisoning and lead contamination

  58. Nutrients that reduce lead poisoning June 2010

  59. Lead poisoning and menopause

  60. Fact sheet For Schoolkids From Professor Knowlead About Lead

  61. Prevention of Exposure to Lead at Work in Indonesia

  62. Mencegah kontak dengan timbal di tempat kerja di Indonesia

  63. How to Protect Your Family from Lead in Indonesia

  64. Bagaimana melindungi keluargamu dari timbal di Indonesia

  65. Cigarette Smoking & Lead Toxicity
     صحيفة معلومات: التدخين والتسمم بالرصاص

  66. Medical Evaluation Questionnaire For Occupational Lead Exposure

  67. Dangers of a blood lead level above 2 µg/dL and below 10 µg/dL to children

  68. Dangers of a blood lead level above 2 µg/dL and below 10 µg/dL to adults

  69. Biosolids used as fertilizer in China and other countries
    在中国和其他国家生物固体作肥料

  70. What are the lead poisoning risks of a lead pellet, bullet or shot lodged in the body?

  71. Alcohol’s link to higher lead and iron levels

  72. USA Case Definition of Adult (including Occupational) & Child Elevated Blood Lead Levels (EBLL)

  73. Low Level Lead Exposure Harms Children - A Renewed Call for Primary Prevention

  74. Occupational Health & Safety Fact Sheet Dangers of lead for roofers

  75. Let’s Make Leaded Petrol History - Let’s Make Leaded Gasoline History

  76. Lead, Your Health & the Environment. Available in Arabic, Chinese, English, Korean, Macedonian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese 

  77. Lead Safe Housekeeping

  78. Old Lead Paint

  79. Working safely with lead

  80. A Renovator's Guide To The Dangers Of Lead (Brochure 30 pages)

  81. A Guide For Health Care Professionals (Brochure 34 pages)

  82. A Guide To Keeping Your Family Safe From Lead (Brochure 20 pages)

  83. Lead Hazard Management In Children's Services (Brochure 15 pages)

  84. A Guide To Dealing With Soil That Might Be Lead-Contaminated

  85. Exposure Assessment: Lead Neurotoxicity - Is the Center for Disease Control's goal to reduce lead below 10 µg/dl blood in all children younger than 72 months by 2010, good enough?

About Us | bell system lead poisoning | Contact Us | Council LEAD Project | egroups | Library - Fact Sheets | Home Page | Media Releases
Newsletters
| Q & A | Referral lists | Reports | Site Map | Slide Shows - Films | Subscription | Useful Links |  Search this Site

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 Last Updated 01 May 2014
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PO Box 161 Summer Hill NSW 2130 Australia
Phone: +61 2 9716 0014