Long-term residents of Mount Isa are sick of talking about lead and know how to reduce their child’s contact with it.
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But a new study released by the Centre for Rural and Remote Health showed most new residents have significantly less lead awareness.
“There are children at risk. There is population churn and up to 20 per cent of people can be new to Mount Isa in one year, so if they have children they might not necessarily know about living with lead health promotion,” Centre director Sabina Knight said.
“It is important we reach those families to make sure they are fully aware of what they need to do.”
Almost 300 Mount Isa families participated in the “Community Awareness of Living with Lead in Mount Isa” survey, which aimed to determine the effectiveness of lead health promotion.
Less than a third of parents with children aged 0-7 were aware that finger prick tests were available to gauge their child’s blood lead levels.
Results showed 49 per cent of parents do not consider lead as a health concern for their children.
“They are more worried about obesity, nutrition and dental care,” Professor Knight said.
“It could be two things, either they are aware of it and understand they are managing it well, or it could be that we need to better educate the community to be more aware of it, so they are taking the appropriate measures so their family is safe.
“What needs to be done is we need to raise awareness around capillary testing so that parents can know what the levels of their children are.”
Almost five Mount Isa children per week log “unusual” blood lead levels.
Last year, less than half of Mount Isa children aged 0-5 years had their lead levels tested. Blood testing for children allows health authorities to track lead exposure and identify risk factors.
“So long as people are well informed and take the appropriate and recommended protective and mitigation measures to minimise their and their children’s exposure to lead, I believe Mount Isa remains a safe place in which to live,” Qld Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said.
Free blood lead testing at Queensland Medical Laboratory. Phone 4743 4299.