The LEAD Group, a charity based in Sydney, runs the only global lead poisoning prevention and lead management information and referral service in the world.

International Lead Poisoning Awareness Day – Saturday 20^th October – marks the start of International Lead Poisoning Awareness Week (ending Saturday 27^th October, 2007).

So, what do we have to celebrate?

• The LEAD Group was told by staff at the Department of Environment and Water Resources that the Australian Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull decided yesterday to provide a grant for administrative costs and one wage to run The LEAD Group’s Global Lead Advice and Support Service (GLASS) in FY 2007-8

• Australia is in the 5^th year of unleaded petrol for road use

• This is the 10^th anniversary of Lead Poisoning Awareness Day (gazetted in NSW in 1997)

• This is the 15^th anniversary of the incorporation of The LEAD Group – an environmental health and consumer watchdog community group founded by parents of lead poisoned children so we’re having a party on 24^th October evening at The LEAD Group’s office.

• 20^th October 2007 is the 110^th anniversary of the world’s first publication in a medical journal (the Australasian Medical Gazette) of a description of childhood lead poisoning

The group’s President Elizabeth O’Brien, as a citizen of the world’s largest lead exporting country, wants to see the end of lead poisoning globally in her lifetime and outlines the following steps along the path to achieving a lead-safe world:

•   a global ban on leaded petrol, leaded paint and leaded PVC

• legislation requiring clean-up of leaded dusts and removal of lead paint from homes plus lead hazard warning labels on devices or products which can turn paint into dust or fumes (eg heat guns, sanders, blow torches, sandpaper).

• manufacturer- or government-guaranteed recycling of lead found in e.g. old paint chips, dust, computers, jewellery, PVC, ammunition, flashing, fishing tackle, wheel weights

•  guaranteed consumer protection re lead in toys, jewellery and other items already in homes or yet to be purchased or imported. Warning labels on lead solder, sinkers etc.

• Public Health policies and doctor education to bring about an enormous increase in the number of blood lead tests carried out, including at autopsy, in order to identify the true cost to society of lead poisoning and its role in learning difficulties, autism, ADD, crime, infertility and miscarriage, hearing loss, heart attacks, stroke, osteoporosis, falls & bone breaks leading to death in the elderly, Alzheimer's, etc

• A goal that everyone should have a blood lead level below 2 micrograms per decilitre (µg/dL) 0.1 micromoles per litre (µmol/L) and workers should never exceed a working life exposure of 200 microgram years per decilitre.

Individual membership of The LEAD Group is only $5 per annum so please join us today!

Contact: Elizabeth O’Brien,
The LEAD Group - (02) 9716 0014                                                   ###