General
Port Pirie lead levels in two-year-olds hit 10-year high after Nyrstar’s EPA licence breach
Lead levels in two-year-olds have hit a 10-year high in the South Australian city of Port Pirie, according to the state’s health department.
Key points:
- SA Health says Port Pirie’s blood lead figures are “disappointing” but “not unexpected”
- Smelter owner Nyrstar says it is spending tens of millions of dollars in a bid to address the problem
- Nyrstar was penalised by the EPA last year for breaching its licence after vowing to halve lead emissions
Measuring levels in the blood of children of that age is considered to be the most accurate way to gauge lead exposure in the general population.
Last year the average in two-year-olds reached a high of 7.3 micrograms per decilitre of blood — two micrograms higher than the lowest yearly average in…
-
General23 hours agoGerman backpacker Carolina Wilga found alive in WA’s outback
-
General12 hours agoThailand punches above its weight in film creativity and cross-border appeal. Here’s why
-
General23 hours agoVictims of crypto ATM scams lose $2.5 million as police warn older Tasmanians are targets
-
Noosa News4 hours agoNRL live updates: Newcastle Knights vs Melbourne Storm, St George Illawarra Dragons vs Sydney Roosters, North Queensland Cowboys vs Canterbury Bulldogs