The 2022 annual report on blood lead levels of children in Port Pirie shows no overall change in most reported blood lead indicators compared to the previous year.
SA Health has been reporting blood leads since around 1984, and the results published today are a
snapshot of the last 10 years, which includes the full year of 2022.
The latest results published today show slight deteriorations across most indicators that have not caused an overall change in results at a population level compared to 2021.
The exception to this is the increase in the number of children with levels equal to or above 20 micrograms per decilitre and an eight percent increase in the number of children tested at their second birthday with levels equal to or above 10 micrograms per decilitre.
Children who turned two-years-old last year were born after a period of higher lead in air, as reported by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). This means they were exposed to greater levels of lead since birth in 2020, resulting in their peak levels reached at this age are higher than children born in previous years.
SA Health and the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network Environmental Health Centre provide voluntary blood lead screening to the Port Pirie community and in partnership with the Government Lead Abatement Program (GLAP), the Targeted Lead Abatement Program (TLAP) and the Port Pirie Regional Council, including various lead-exposure interventions and customised support to families, as well as community-wide education and awareness programs.
SA Health encourages pregnant people, people who are planning pregnancy and families with young children – particularly those families new to Port Pirie – to
