Lead is a heavy metal used in many industrial applications such as manufacturing batteries, alloys, plastics and protective coatings. It is not required for human health, and can be toxic when ingested or inhaled.
Lead levels have risen greatly in the environment world-wide over the last 300 years though exposure to lead has declined significantly over several decades, particularly with the decrease in lead content of domestic paint and removal of lead from petrol.
Research suggests that even small amounts of lead can be toxic when ingested and are particularly hazardous for children, being associated with poorer development, behavior and learning.
Because of our concern , NHMRC maintains a watching brief of international developments and the scientific literature with regard to lead, and receives advice from an expert committee. In common with other international health bodies, our current recommendation is that all Australians should have a blood lead level of less than 10µg/dL. This should not be interpreted as a “safe” level, or a “level of concern”, rather it is the level at which sources of exposure should be investigated.
NHMRC’s “blood levels for Australians” aims to provide information on “practical things you can do to reduce the exposure of you and your family to lead.”
Environmental aspects of lead are the province of enHealth (The Environmental Health Committee—a subcommittee of the Australian Health Protection Committee). NHMRC understands that enHelath is proposing work on management of lead exposure in environments where lead is endemic e.g. in communities where lead is mined or smelted.
NHMRC Information Paper and Public Statement 2009
In 2009, NHMRC published a public statement and an information paper reiterating the message that it is important to limit exposure to lead in the community.
NHMRC Lead Working Committee 2011–2012
Advice on how to address human exposure to lead remains an important issue for NHMRC and we have recently appointed a specialist Lead Working Committee to provide technical and jurisdictional advice and expertise to the NHMRC. The Committee maintains a watching brief for our Council of international developments and the scientific literature in regard to this issue. If compelling evidence emerges that would require NHMRC to revise its Public Statement, the Council of NHMRC may advise the CEO to take this action.
The Committee was established in July 2011, and it is currently working on developing a guidance document for health practitioners on managing individual lead exposure. The current working title for the document is Managing individual exposure to lead in Australia—A guide for health practitioners.
Terms of Reference
Providing guidance on managing individual exposure to lead in Australia aligns with objectives 1 and 2 in the NHMRC 2010–2012 Strategic Plan. Management of high blood lead levels remains an important issue requiring a specialist Lead Working Committee to provide technical and jurisdictional advice and expertise to the NHMRC.
The Lead Working Committee will:
- Advise on the development of the Information Paper on Best Practice Management of Episodic Notification of High Blood Lead Levels in Urban Environments (for GPs, paediatricians and public health/environmental health practitioners).
- Identify gaps in evidence-based public policy relating to management of high blood lead levels.
- Provide advice on the translation of research findings into best practice for managing high blood lead levels.
- Advise on how to effectively engage relevant stakeholders i.e. State/Territory departments of health, and general practitioners and paediatricians.
Appointments to the Lead Working Committee commenced 14 July 2011 and will concluded 30 June 2012.
Membership
Members of the current Lead Working Committee are:
- Ms Sophie Dwyer (Chair) - Executive Director, Health Protection, Qld Health
- Dr David Simon - Director, Scientific Services, Public Health, SA Department of Health
- Dr Simon Slota-Kan - Senior Medical Advisor, Environmental Health Unit, Vic Department of Health
- Professor Wayne Smith - Director, Environmental Health Branch, NSW Health
- Dr Martin Matisons - Principal Toxicologist, Environmental Health Directorate, WA Department of Health
- Dr Roscoe Taylor - Director of Public Health and Director of Population Health, Tas Department of Health
- Associate Professor Peter Baghurst - Head, Public Health Research Unit, Women's and Children's Hospital, SA
- Professor Michael Moore - Chair, Water Quality Research Australia
- Associate Professor Neil Wigg - Executive Director, Community Child Health Services, Qld Health
- Ms Stephanie Newell - Consumer
- Mr Daniel Arquero (Observer) – Safe Work Australia