Biokinetics of Lead in Human Pregnancy
This major international
study largely funded by the U.S. National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences with collaborators CSIRO, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Garvan Medical Research Institute, and University of Adelaide,
was completed in January 2003. It determined using the lead isotope
method that lead is mobilised from the maternal skeleton during pregnancy
and lactation, with a higher amount mobilised during lactation. A continuation
of this study evaluated the efficacy of calcium supplementation in minimising
the amount of mobilisation from the skeleton. A summary of this project
is given in publication no. 58.
(Papers 15,
22, 26, 28,
30, 32, 37,
40, 42, 48,
50-53, 58,
64).
Metal
Emissions from Petrol
In this project, largely
financed through an Australian Research Council Discovery grant over
4 years, we aim to determine the contribution of manganese (Mn), lead
(Pb), and other metal emissions from motor vehicles to the environment
and exposure of very young children. Manganese is of potential concern
because of (a) its recent introduction as methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT) in NSW as a fuel additive to replace lead and (b)
the lack of information on environmental levels, exposure, and long-term
health effects, especially in children. This is a collaborative project
bringing together researchers from academia, CSIRO, National Measurement
Institute, ANSTO and the US Environmental Protection Agency.
(Papers 69,
71)
Mining
and Smelting Communities
A major investigation
at the Broken Hill lead mining community, partially funded by the NSW
EPA, established that paint and petrol were significant contributors
to blood lead in some children, besides the majority of lead coming
from orebody soureces. In addition, it demonstrated the importance of
monitoring family members as a pathway for "take-home" lead. This was
also the testing ground for development of the tooth method and the
petri dish method.
(Papers 5, 6,
7, 9, 10,
17, 19, 20,
21, 22, 24,
41, 57, 59)
A comparative study
of two smelter communities in Port Pirie and Hobart involved the analysis
of environmental samples and blood and urine from adult females and
some children as part of the study of Biokinetics of Lead in Human Pregnancy
(Papers 22, 38).
Other studies involved
an investigation into the sources and pathways of lead in ceiling dust
and historical sources of lead contamination in Lake Illawarra arising
especially from industrial sources such as the Port Kembla smelter,
steelworks and power stations (Paper 34)
and the distance metals have been transported from the complex (Papers
61, 62). A
metals-transport distance study was also undertaken in soils and plants
around the Cockle Creek smelter, near Newcastle (Paper 57).
A comparison of lead isotopes
in the teeth of lead-poisoned children and environment samples showed
that the overwhelming majority of lead derived from smelter emissions
(Paper 66)
A preliminary study showed that the lead isotope method could detect
uptake of lead in blood of employees exposed to dust from uranium mining
and processing operations (Paper 67)
Urban
Cities (Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide)
A multi-element study of
ceiling dust in 28 houses in the Greater Sydney Area showed that ceiling
dust provides excellent indications of past contaminants in the urban
environment (Paper 68).
"Take
Home" Lead
Transport of lead
from the workplace to residence was demonstrated using the lead isotope
method in Broken Hill (Paper 24 ), Woodlawn
mine (Goulburn) (Paper 25), and potentially
from engine reconditioning shops. (Paper 42)
Lead
Paint Removal from Bridges
Monitoring of lead
paint removal from several bridges has been undertaken on a consultative
basis.
Ryde Bridge Sydney
(funded by the Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW); Storey Bridge Brisbane
(funded by Queensland Department of Conservation and the Environment);
Sydney Harbour Bridge; Several other bridges in NSW and Queensland (funded
by RTA).
Forensic
Investigations
An investigation
of exhibits from a murder trial indicated that the lead isotope method
could have produced definitive results but some of the exhibits probably
had been contaminated by careless handling. (Paper 55)
The analyses of
different sections of teeth indicated that the lead isotope method could
possibly be used to identify the country of origin of "missing persons"
and potentially the length of residence time in Australia (Papers 28,
30).
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