National Health and Medical Research Council Deliberations

The NHMRC has recently decided that a blood lead "level of concern" is no longer appropriate and has replaced it with a national public health target of 10 micrograms per decilitre (10 µg/dL) , although no date for achievement of the target has been set The Council suggested actions for various blood lead levels above the target, as follows:

1. Management responses for the community

When more than 5% of 1-4 year old children in a community have a blood lead level above 15 µg/dL then the following actions should occur:-

• Investigate lead sources in the affected community.
• Develop environmental management plans with effective strategies for community involvement in design and implementation.
• Plan to particularly target sub-sections in the community showing blood lead levels above 15 µg/dL. Plan to include specifically prepared community education program and . time-frame for on-going reassessment of community blood levels.

When more than 5 % of 1-4 year olds are above 25 µg/dL, the NHMRC recommends:

• As above but on a more intensive and broader community basis.

• Consideration of earlier reassessment of community blood lead levels.

2. Management responses for individual children

blood lead of 15-24 µg/dL

• Personal exposure evaluation and source remediation / abatement

• Personal education and advice on exposure control for guardian(s) and child, as indicated.

• Repeat testing as appropriate in individual circumstances to assess effectiveness of actions taken.

blood lead of 25-54 µg/dL

• Detailed medical history and examination with particular focus on possible adverse effects based on exposure history and blood lead level.

• Personal exposure evaluation, including environmental sampling as indicated

• Remediation / abatement of exposure source. Personal education and advice on exposure control for guardian(s) and child, as indicated. If exposure control not possible, consider relocation.

• Re-test in about 3 months to assess the effectiveness of actions taken.

blood lead > 55 µg/dL