Residents of an inner-city Hobart apartment block have been tested by the health department for lead poisoning.
The state manager of environmental health, Stuart Heggie, said comprehensive blood and urine testing had failed to demonstrate any evidence of elevated heavy metals levels in the residents.
But he added: “We are continuing to work closely with residents.”
The department undertook its own testing, further to private testing done by some of the residents.
Hobart City Council is awaiting complete Environment Protection Authority (EPA) test results on the Elizabeth Street property before deciding what to do.
The extent of the contamination is unknown but initial EPA testing recorded lead in the property’s soil at 400ppm (parts per million), said residents, some of whom are scrambling to move out.
They said the 400ppm level is at least unsafe for children and pets.
Children aged under four years are most at risk from lead poisoning.
They absorb 50 per cent of the lead they take into their bodies, which are still developing their brain and nervous system, poisoning awareness lobby The Lead Group says.
Pregnant women are also at greater risk of lead poisoning than the general adult population.
The Lead Group says 400ppm is the lowest threshold requiring barriers to prevent human contact.
Although the NSW EPA requires only 300ppm for further site investigation, the group says.
Tasmania EPA director Alex Schaap said there was no “high” levels of heavy metals present at the property from soil and tap samples taken.
“The results were slightly above the limits expected for the average suburban residential soil, and below the limits expected to be found in a residential property located in a capital city,” he said.
“As an extra precautionary measure a dust fallout sample has been taken and submitted for laboratory testing.
“The results are expected later this month and will provide an indication of any metal contaminants coming from air fallout.”
First published: 2012-07-12 03:02 PM
