Experts call for reduction in childhood blood-lead levels

A panel of national and international experts who convened at Macquarie University to discuss how best to eliminate lead toxicity in Australian children have called for blood lead levels to be lowered from the current NHMRC recommended standard of 10 μg/dL.

There was consensus to develop a way forward that will enable better identification of those at risk and the best ways of protecting them from preventable lead exposures.

To reach this goal, it would be necessary to improve the means of identifying sources of lead exposure, assess lead risks and eliminate or control lead hazards, they said.

The group said that government agencies need to review all new evidence and revise existing standards while recognising that there is no apparent threshold for lead-associated health problems among children.

They also want the government to support targeted research into the critical issue of low-level lead toxicity, including how other exposures like low SES, tobacco and other metals may modify the effect of lead in children.

They called for a national survey of lead exposure in children that would provide estimates of the blood lead distribution in Australia. The survey would be used to identify children who are at risk of having a blood lead concentration above the 97.5th percentile and could also be used to develop a new reference level or blood lead value for intervention.

In order to provide an ongoing picture of population-wide exposure, a national data base for all blood lead assays needs to be established.

Recommendations also included providing doctors and allied health professionals up-to-date information and training about the effects of low-level lead exposure on children.

(Source: Macquarie University)