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Worst Case Lead Poisoning and
Tasmanian Government Inaction (continued)
By Elizabeth O'Brien,
Manager, Lead Advisory Service Australia
Edited by Paul Spencer,
activist and roving volunteer
Media
Attention
20
Oct 2000 The Editor of the Western Herald pleaded: one Queenstown child "has such
high [blood lead] levels his life has been ruined and surely it is not asking for too much
for the government to take every precaution to ensure our children are not left to play in
a community that is making them sick."
27
Oct 2000 a Western Herald letter to the editor from GP and local Councillor Dr Gerry
McGushin, says "None of the children [in the West Coast study] had a [blood lead]
level greater than 50 [µg/dL] which is the medically recognised figure where lead
poisoning can take effect."
Conclusion
It may take a
court case to ensure that the Public Health Director notifies council when he receives
notifiable blood lead results in the future. Adrian was continually lead poisoned for 3
years while the Tasmanian Health Department stood back and watched. At the same time, his
younger sister and brother also became lead poisoned. The persistent efforts of The LEAD
Group over a period of 8 months finally resulted in February 2001 in the family being
moved from the copper mining area where the children were poisoned, to a lead-safe house.
Adrian is now undergoing chelation therapy and attends a special school to help deal with
his learning behaviour problems.
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