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A message to Doctors about lead dangers
More and more evidence is accumulating about the wide range
of health problems caused by environmental lead poisoning, particularly for infants and
young children. Our study in 1996 found that possibly 25% of under-five children in Sydney have blood lead levels
above the NH&MRC recommended level of 0.48 µmol/L (10 µg/dL.).
The problem for doctors is that, in most cases, lead
poisoning will not exhibit
clinical symptoms, even though damage is occurring.
Doctors must get into the habit, whenever they see children, of
checking whether the child has been exposed to risk factors. If so, a blood lead test is
indicated.
This edition of Lead Action news is designed to supplement the valuable document A Guide for Health Care
Professionals published by the NSW Lead Reference Centre.
This edition contains a simple questionnaire that will identify key risk
factors among your young patients. Please, get all your families with children to complete
it. If they have risk factors, get them to have a blood lead test even if there are no
symptoms.
Professor Michael Mira,
CSDGP (Central Sydney Division of General Practice)
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