LEAD Action News
LEAD Action News Volume 14 Number 2, December  2013, ISSN 1324-6011
Incorporating Lead Aware Times ( ISSN 1440-4966) and Lead Advisory Service News (ISSN 1440-0561)
The Journal of The LEAD (Lead Education and Abatement Design) Group Inc.
Editor-in-Chief: Elizabeth O'Brien, Editorial Team: Hitesh Lohani, Anne Roberts and David Ratcliffe

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Strategies of the NSW Lead Management Action Plan, Nov 1994, by the NSW Government Lead Taskforce

Core Strategies of the Lead Management Action Plan

Establishment of a Lead Reference Centre

Strategy 1. Establishing and resourcing a Lead Reference Centre (Strategy implementation: NSW Government, co-ordination by the EPA).

Establish Environmental Lead Centres in Point-source Communities

Strategy 2. The establishment of community Environmental Lead Centres in point-source communities where a significant lead contamination problem has been found to exist and where the management strategy has identified that abatement actions should be implemented. The functions of the Environmental Lead Centres would be:

  • to develop and implement problem-specific lead management strategies
  • to develop protocols and action plans to resolve local issues
  • to develop, in conjunction with the proposed Lead Reference Centre, targeted education material
  • to provide an interface with the local community.

These Centres would be established where environmental and health investigations have identified a specific need to manage exposure to community lead.

(Strategy implementation: NSW Government, co-ordination by NSW Health and the EPA; NSW Government to seek joint funding from industry).

Lead In Air

Identification of Problem Areas

Strategy 3. Undertaking source emission inventories. Estimates of emission rates from sites, which produce or incorporate lead products should be undertaken and updated regularly. The information should be included in the State of the Environment Report.

(Strategy implementation: Industry, with emission inventory design, with the co-ordination and collation of results for incorporation into the State of the Environment Report being undertaken by the EPA)

Strategy 4. Undertaking blood lead sampling of high-risk populations to determine if the lead exposure pathways are impacting on community health.

(Strategy implementation: NSW Health in association with the Commonwealth EPA and the NHMRC. Co-ordination and strategy development to be undertaken by NSW Health)

Control of Fugitive and Point-Source Emissions

Strategy 5. Develop management strategies to address point sources with high emission rates. Issues to be incorporated into the management Strategy includes:

  • fugitive emissions
  • regular stack emissions testing for factories (testing rates should vary depending on emission rates).
  • public access to monitoring data and information contained in licence conditions

(Strategy implementation: Industry, co-ordinated by the EPA)

Strategy 6. Develop management strategies to control non-point source emissions such as:

the removal of lead based paints from public structures

demolition of buildings

(Strategy implementation: Australian Institute of Environmental Health, local councils; EPA to produce guidelines)

Education

Strategy 7. Develop specific education material for high-risk communities which can be incorporated into a broad lead education campaign.

(Strategy implementation: Lead Reference Centre with input from existing Environmental Lead Centres and appropriate organisations)

Strategy 8. Develop information sheets to distribute to exposed communities on practical risk reduction techniques for intercepting exposure pathways within the home environment.

(Strategy implementation: EPA, Health; co-ordinated by the Lead Reference Centre)

Strategy 9. Provide ready access to information and strategies to the community. This should be undertaken as part of the broad strategy to be developed by the Lead Reference Centre

(Strategy implementation: Lead Reference Centre, Environmental Lead Centres)

Review of Standards

Objective:

To review standards and monitoring protocols to determine the adequacy of these standards to protect the community at the new NHMRC goal for population blood lead levels.

Strategy 10. Request that the NHMRC review the national goal for ambient air lead levels and determine, through risk assessment, if it enables the achievement of the new blood lead goals for populations where exposure to lead is high.

(Strategy implementation: NHMRC with assistance from state health and environment agencies; co-ordinated by the EPA and the Lead Reference Centre)

Strategy 11. Request that the NHMRC, in conjunction with ANZECC, establish a monitoring protocol for taking samples to determine compliance with the NHMRC goals and objectives.

(Strategy implementation: NHMRC with assistance from state health and environment agencies; co-ordinated by the EPA and the Lead Reference Centre)

Lead in Broken Hill ”V Incorporates Strategies for North Lake Macquarie and Port Kembla.

Strategy Management

Strategy 12. Establish the Broken Hill Environmental Lead Centre to co-ordinate the implementation of the short-term strategy and to provide a prominent interface with the Broken Hill community.

(Strategy implementation: NSW Government through NSW Health to establish the Broken Hill Environmental Lead Centre)

Strategy 13. Employ appropriate professional and support staff, including an office manager, scientific officers, clerk of works and technicians to implement the strategy.

(Strategy implementation: Relevant authorities such as NSW Health, the EPA and the local council to establish the terms of reference for the Broken Hill Environmental Lead Centre and to employ appropriate staff)

Blood Lead Surveillance

Strategy 14. Provide trained community nursing staff to undertake blood lead monitoring.

Strategy 15. Establish clinic facilities within the Environmental Lead Centre.

Strategy 16. Offer routine testing for all pre-school children and newborn babies.

Strategy 17. Target all children under five years of age in Broken Hill for inclusion in the blood lead screening program

Strategy 18. Monitor all children with high blood lead levels

Strategy 19. Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions used to lower blood lead levels.

(Strategy implementation: All strategies will be implemented by the Broken Hill Environmental Lead Centre)

Management Response

Strategy 20. Remediation and/or abatement of lead contamination in the home environment of children identified as having high blood lead levels. The necessary equipment required to undertake the investigation and remediation or abatement work will be provided to undertake this strategy.

Strategy 21. Provide emergency housing for families of children with very high blood lead levels. This housing should be provided until their home environments have been remediated or their blood lead levels have stabilised.

(Strategy implementation: All strategies will be implemented by the Broken Hill Environmental Lead Centre)

Community Liaison and Education

Strategy 22. Provide a full time community education officer to develop specific education programs to service the needs of the local community. Effective programs will need to evolve with the implementation and findings of the short-term strategy.

Strategy 23. Liaise closely with the Lead Reference Centre to ensure the wide distribution of education material developed in Broken Hill and which is of relevance to other statewide lead issues.

(Strategy implementation: All strategies will be implemented by the Broken Hill Environmental Lead Centre)

Evaluation

Strategy 24. Evaluate the remediation or intervention programs undertaken at the homes of children with high blood lead levels. Assess the effectiveness of the interim intervention remediation protocols.

(Strategy implementation: Broken Hill Environmental Lead Centre)

Development of Comprehensive Risk Reduction Strategies North Lake Macquarie

Strategy 25. Employment of a person to assess and co-ordinate all projects undertaken in the area and to assess all available data on the extent of the lead contamination.

(Strategy implementation.. Co-ordinated by the EPA)

As indicated necessary by the implementation of strategy (1) undertake the following:

Strategy 26. Review the function of the existing Environmental Health Centre and augment these functions if necessary.

(Strategy implementation: Undertaken by a consultative committee incorporating government, community representatives and industry representatives)

Strategy 27. Develop information for the community giving clear and effective advice on how to intercept exposure pathways and minimise the impact of lead.

(Strategy implementation: Undertaken by the Environmental Lead Centre with assistance from the Lead Reference Centre and relevant authorities)

Strategy 28. Develop and implement a comprehensive education strategy

(Strategy implementation: Undertaken by the Environmental Lead Centre with assistance from the Lead Reference Centre and relevant authorities such as Dept of School Education)

Further Reduce Point-Source and Fugitive Emissions North Lake Macquarie

Strategy 29. Continue and enhance the co-operative effort between industry and the regulating authorities to investigate point source and fugitive emissions and to reduce these emission rates where ever possible.

Strategy 30. To implement a staged and targeted reduction program based on the findings of the above investigations.

(Strategy implementation: to be undertaken by the company implementing a program developed in consultation with the EPA and the community)

Quantification of the Lead Issue - Port Kembla

Strategy 31. Development and implementation of an investigation program to determine the status of environmental contamination and the consequent effect on public health in the vicinity of the Port Kembla smelter.

(Strategy implementation: a multidisciplinary team incorporating NSW Health, the EPA, industry and local government. strategy development and co-ordination to be undertaken by NSW Health)

Strategy 32. Develop an Action Plan for the management of lead contamination issues which is based on the findings of the investigation program. The Action Plan could incorporate the establishment of an Environmental Lead Centre if appropriate and the development of an education strategy.

(Strategy implementation: a multidisciplinary team incorporating NSW Health, the EPA, industry and local government strategy development and co-ordination to be undertaken by NSW Health)

Determination of the Lead Emission Rates from the Smelter - Port Kembla

Strategy 33. Establish emission rates for fugitive and point source emissions from the smelter by undertaking a comprehensive audit of the plant.

(Strategy implementation: Fugitive and point-source emission rates from the smelter should be established by the company. The EPA should be responsible for ensuring that this action is undertaken)

Lead In Children”¦s Blood

Surveillance

Objectives:

To describe the distribution of blood lead levels in NSW children and characterise risk factors associated with elevated blood lead levels.

Strategy 34. Conduct a random sample blood lead survey of children living in NSW.

(Strategy implementation: developed and funded by CEPA, initiated and undertaken by NSW Health)

Strategy 35. As part of the blood lead survey include a questionnaire on potential risk factors for elevated blood lead levels.

(Strategy implementation: NSW Health)

Strategy 36. Compare the costs and the results of blood lead levels obtained through hospital based surveillance with the levels obtained by a community based survey (the gold standard).

(Strategy implementation: NSW Health)

Quality Control

Strategy 37. Develop blood sampling guidelines based on Australian Standard 2636 for distribution to general practitioners, paediatricians and other health care workers who are likely to carry out blood lead testing.

(Strategy implementation: NSW Health).

Strategy 38. Develop national reporting guidelines for pathology laboratories undertaking blood lead testing. The guidelines could be included as part of the Australian Standard for blood lead analysis (AS 4090.1).

(Strategy implementation. Developed by NSW Health and Standards Australia)

Education

Strategy 39. Develop and disseminate guidelines for health care workers.

(Strategy implementation: Liaison between the NSW Government and the Commonwealth to be undertaken by the Lead Reference Centre in conjunction with NSW Health)

Strategy 40. Develop lead education materials for targeted groups within the community.

(Strategy implementation: Lead Reference Centre)

Evaluation

Strategy 41. Establish a blood lead surveillance system based on either:

repeated community surveys or

hospital based opportunistic surveys.

(Strategy implementation: NSW Health with co-operation from the Lead Reference Centre)

Lead Education

Knowledge

Strategy 42. Develop broad education strategies using a low level media campaign which provides information on the sources of lead contamination and ways of minimising exposure to these sources.

Strategy 43. Develop strategies for the wide distribution of general information to specific target groups (eg pre-1986 car users and parents of young children).

Strategy 44. Develop distribution strategies for general information to broad target groups (eg information on lead paint issues).

Strategy 45. Print lead education material in a range of community languages.

(Strategy implementation: All of these strategies will be developed by the Lead Reference Centre with input from relevant agencies. In specific instances (such as the development of education material on detailed health issues), it will be more appropriate for individual agencies to develop the education material. In these cases the Lead Reference Centre will be responsible for identifying the agency and the education message.)

Development of Broadly Targeted Community Education Material

Strategy 46. Promote the use of unleaded petrol among those people who drive cars manufactured before 1986.

Strategy 47. Distribute pertinent lead information to pregnant women through the Blue Book System.

Strategy 48. Distribute lead in paint information kits through paint retail outlets and local councils.

Strategy 49. Distribute a general lead information kit for parents of children less than five years old through childcare and pre-school centres.

Strategy 50. Distribute information to child education centres on pertinent lead issues including the identification and management of lead exposure pathways.

(Strategy implementation: All strategies will be implemented by the Lead Reference Centre or by a more appropriate agency identified by the Lead Reference Centre)

Development of Training and Education Programs

Strategy 51. Develop in service training modules for childcare providers.

Strategy 52. Develop relevant curriculum material for incorporation into TAFE training courses.

Strategy 53. Incorporate information on lead into the appropriate syllabuses of the relevant key learning areas of the NSW K-12 curriculum.

Strategy 54. Develop teaching/learning units for NSW schools where lead content is appropriate to the syllabuses.

Strategy 55. Incorporate relevant lead education material into courses for medical practitioners and childcarers.

(Strategy implementation: Lead Reference Centre in co-operation with the Board of Studies, Department of School Education, non-government systems and schools, the TAFE Commission and appropriate child care organisations)

Strategy 56. Training of public and community health professionals about lead issues

(Strategy implementation: NSW Health with the assistance of the Lead Reference Centre)

Development of Specifically Targeted Community Education Material

Strategy 57. Develop an information booklet for parents of children affected by high blood lead levels.

(Strategy implementation: Lead Reference Centre with the assistance of relevant authorities; co-ordinated by the Lead Reference Centre)

Strategy 58. Develop and augment education strategies for point-source communities including Broken Hill, North Lake Macquarie and Port Kembla (in some instances this will necessitate prior work to be undertaken to identify the extent and characteristics of the problem and to develop and evaluate site specific management strategies).

(Strategy implementation: Lead Reference Centre and the Environmental Lead Centres if required, co-ordinated by the Lead Reference Centre and the EPA)

Strategy 59. Develop information kits outlining exposure routes and exposure management strategies for people whose homes are affected by lead paints or lead from vehicle emissions.

(Strategy implementation: Environmental Lead Centres where these exist in conjunction with relevant agencies. Lead Reference Centre to incorporate information into the education Strategy)

Strategy 60. Assess the impact and suitability of the DEST Medical Practitioners Kit and identify follow ”Vup actions if necessary.

(Strategy implementation: NSW Health)

Strategy 61. Review the lead education program in the context of the needs of the Aboriginal community

(Strategy implementation: the Lead Reference Centre with the assistance of an appropriate liaison committee)

Development, Co-ordination and Dissemination of Education Material

Objectives:

To develop, co-ordinate and conduct lead education strategies as well as to assist in the development of education strategies by other government and non-government bodies.

To ensure that information messages are developed consistently and, through a comprehensive distribution strategy, to ensure that the development messages reach target audiences.

Strategy 62. Development of relevant educational material by the Lead Reference Centre and responsible agencies

(Strategy implementation: Lead Reference Centre with the assistance of relevant agencies)

Strategy 63. Review education and training procedures for primary lead industry workers

(Strategy implementation: the WorkCover Authority)

Strategy 64. Review and assist the development of lead education material produced for local council implementation.

(Strategy implementation: the Australian Institute of Environmental Health)

Lead In Food

Regulation

Strategy 65. Incorporate any amendments to the Australian Food Standards Code made by the National Food Authority into NSW legislation.

(Strategy implementation: NSW Health)

Surveillance

Objectives:

To increase surveillance of lead levels in imported foods.

Strategy 66. Review current testing procedures for imported foods as undertaken by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)

(Strategy implementation: ACIS, NSW Health to liaise with the Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health)

Strategy 67. Survey lead levels of uncovered food at roadside stalls and market places located on high traffic density roads.

(Strategy implementation: Public Health Units, NSW Health to write protocol)

Education

Strategy 68. Develop and disseminate information about lead and food preparation and nutrition.

(Strategy implementation: Lead Reference Centre with the assistance of NSW Health)

Strategy 69. Provide information on ways to minimise lead exposure from food sources as well as cooking, storage and serving utensils.

(Strategy implementation.. Lead Reference Centre with the assistance of NSW Health)

Lead In Paint

Information and education material

Strategy 70. Develop appropriate materials and guidelines on paint containing lead which is targeted at do-it-yourself renovators, building industry professionals, architects, painters and renovation contractors.

(Strategy implementation: Lead Reference Centre with assistance from relevant authorities)

Strategy 71. Provide information and advice for tenants of rented accommodation (public and private) on the dangers of leaded paint.

(Strategy implementation: Department of Housing with the co-operation of the Lead Reference Centre)

Augmentation of administrative and regulatory control

Strategy 72. Review the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons to reduce the permissible lead concentration of all paints except zinc based paints as defined by Australian Standards AS 2105 and AS 2204.

(Strategy implementation: NHMRC and NSW Health, co-ordinated by the Lead Reference Centre and the Government Paint Committee)

Strategy 73. Extend the existing prohibitions for the use of First Schedule paints under the Uniform Paint Standard to include industrial buildings and structures, mines and oil terminals, food and drink preparation equipment and utensils and small-scale automotive repair work.

(Strategy implementation: NHMRC (NSW Health to adopt into state legislation) in consultation with the Government Paint Committee and with reference to the recommendations of the Lead in Paint Working Group Report).

Strategy 74. Develop regulations for contractors removing lead based paints from industrial structures to be registered and develop a code of practice for such contractors.

(Strategy implementation: WorkCover Authority, co-ordinated by the Lead Reference Centre and the Government Paint Committee)

Strategy 75. Develop regulations for contractors removing lead based paints from large buildings such as factories, office blocks and warehouses, to comply with a code of practice.

(Strategy implementation: WorkCover Authority, co-ordinated by the Lead Reference Centre and the Government Paint Committee)

Strategy 76. Establish and maintain a register of tradespeople who work on residential buildings and who have completed relevant training courses on lead paint issues.

(Strategy implementation: Master Painters, Decorators and Signwriters Association)

Strategy 77. Adopt under the Commonwealth Trade Practices Act Australian Standard 1647 to control the levels of heavy metals in imported toys.

(Strategy implementation: Department of Consumer Affairs, Commonwealth State Consumer Products Advisory Committee)

Strategy 78. Review monitoring surveillance for imported toys to ensure compliance with AS1647.

(Strategy implementation: Department of Consumer Affairs, Commonwealth State Consumer Products Advisory Committee)

Strategy 79. Direct all Government departments and agencies to use Government Paint Committee (GPC) Specifications for all painting work, to use GPC approved contractors for the removal of First Schedule paints and to comply with the proposed Australian Standard code of practice for the removal of paint containing lead.

(Strategy implementation: all Government departments)

Strategy 80. Review the Waste Management Act to determine:

the applicability of extending throughout NSW the current metropolitan requirements for the registration and licensing of hazardous waste generation and disposal

the feasibility of establishing and operating regional hazardous waste collection and storage centres for the disposal of lead containing waste.

(Strategy implementation: EPA, Waste Service and local authorities)

Development of standards

Strategy 81. Develop a code of practice for the removal and disposal of lead based paints from industrial applications.

(Strategy implementation: Standards Australia, co-ordinated by the Load Reference Centre)

Strategy 82. Develop a code of practice for the removal and disposal of lead based paints from industrial, commercial and residential buildings.

(Strategy implementation: Standards Australia, co-ordinated by the Lead Reference Centre)

Strategy 83. Amend Australian Standard AS 2311 (Painting of Buildings) to call up the proposed code of practice for commercial/residential/institutional applications.

(Strategy implementation: Standards Australia, co-ordinated by the Lead Reference Centre)

Development of training programs

Objective:

To ensure that tradespeople working in areas where there is a potential to increase the risk of lead exposure to children (eg in houses and schools) undergo training in using safe lead removal techniques which minimise the generation of lead bearing dusts.

Strategy 84. Incorporate topics into trade courses on lead related issues which are based on the proposed Australian Standard codes of practice discussed earlier to control lead in paint.

(Strategy implementation: TAFE in co-operation with the Lead Reference Centre)

Strategy 85. Develop short courses for already qualified tradespeople on lead related issues which are based on these codes of practice. These trained tradespeople will be incorporated into the register to be maintained by the Master Painters, Decorators and Signwriters Association.

(Strategy implementation: TAFE in co-operation with the Lead Reference Centre)

Lead In Petrol

Information and education

Objectives:

To make as many motorists as possible aware of the possibility of using unleaded petrol in pre-1986 vehicles.

To make as many motorists as possible aware of the dangers of lead in leaded petrol to children's health.

Strategy 86. Continue to support the Federal Government's "Take the Step" campaign.

(Strategy implementation: CEPA and state environment departments)

Strategy 87. Widely distribute the list of pre-1986 vehicles which can use unleaded petrol without engine modification.

(Strategy implementation: distribution strategies to be investigated by the Lead Reference Centre)

Strategy 88. Include information on lead in vehicle maintenance programs and on awareness programs on vehicle emissions.

(Strategy implementation: Lead Reference Centre)

Strategy 89. Obtain agreement between the EPA, NSW Health and petrol retailers on wording for a sticker to be displayed on leaded petrol bowsers.

(Strategy implementation: EPA, NSW Health, petrol retailers, coordinated by the Lead Reference Centre)

Augmentation of Administrative and Regulatory Control

Strategy 90. Gain industry agreement to relabel "super" petrol as "leaded" as soon as possible.

(Strategy implementation: Australian Institute of Petroleum and other appropriate organisations, co-ordinated by the EPA)

Strategy 91. Amend the Clean Air Regulations to take account of the use of other possible fuel additives if this becomes necessary.

(Strategy implementation: ANZECC, co-ordinated by the EPA)

Strategy 92. Develop national fuel standards which include efficiency and emissions standards.

(Strategy implementation: coordination by ANZECC)

Lead In Soil And Dust

Establishment of Lead Risk Status in NSW

Strategy 93. Develop and undertake a lead emissions inventory on a state-wide basis. The inventory should be updated on a regular basis (frequency determined by the emission rate). This information should be included in the State of the Environment Report.

(Strategy implementation.. Undertaken by the EPA with the assistance of appropriate authorities, industry and the Lead Reference Centre.)

Strategy 94. Develop and assess techniques for removal of lead containing dust from exterior and interior surfaces.

(Strategy implementation: Environmental Lead Centres, where these exist, with the Lead Reference Centre developing and modifying education material for wider usage)

Strategy 95. Collation of all available data to identify areas of risk from lead exposure

(Strategy implementation: EPA, through an emission inventory and roadside and urban lead studies)

Strategy 96. Correlate blood lead data with the above environmental data to determine an accurate picture of community lead hazard.

(Strategy implementation: NSW Health with assistance from the Environmental Lead Centres where these exist. To be co-ordinated with the information obtained from undertaking blood lead investigations (see section 3.5)

Education

Strategy 97. Establishment of a Lead Reference Centre to develop and disseminate education materials on reducing the lead hazard and to provide a lead advisory service for the community,

(Strategy implementation: NSW Government)

Strategy 98. Development of self assessment-style exposure risk identification guides.

(Strategy implementation: EPA, NSW Health and the Environmental Lead Centres where these exist, co-ordinated by NSW Health and the Lead Reference Centre)

Strategy 99. Develop information guidelines which clearly outline risk reduction actions that can be implemented by home owners, schools, play centres and other target groups where the exposure to lead may be high.

(Strategy implementation: Lead Reference Centre with input from relevant agencies and Environmental Lead Centres where these exist)

Strategy 100. Assessing and modifying where necessary, information developed by community Environmental Lead Centres as well as from other national and international studies on risk reduction and abatement strategies.

(Strategy implementation: Lead Reference Centre with assistance from relevant agencies)

Strategy 101. Testing of domestic and industrial vacuum cleaners to determine their ability to filter fine dust particles.

(Strategy implementation: Environmental Lead Centres where these exist, with the Lead Reference Centre to modify and develop associated education material for wider usage)

Standards and Protocols

Strategy 102. The continued development of soil sampling and analytical standards for lead.

(Strategy implementation: Standards Australia, co-ordinated by the Lead Reference Centre)

Strategy 103. The development of standardised dust sampling methodologies.

(Strategy implementation: Environmental Lead Centres where these exist, co-ordinated by the Lead Reference Centre)

Strategy 104. Investigate and develop where necessary, techniques which effectively reduce exposure to lead. Validate existing techniques to ensure that they are not causing secondary lead contamination.

(Strategy implementation: Environmental Lead Centres, co-ordinated by the Lead Reference Centre)

Review of Planning Controls and Mechanisms

Strategy 105. Review current planning instruments and guidelines available (such as s.149 certificates, Circular C20, Unhealthy Building Land Notices) to manage contamination issues from both point and diffuse sources. The impact of these instruments on the management of sites should be assessed in terms of equity, community impacts and effectiveness.

(Strategy implementation: Interagency forum, co-ordinated by the Department of Planning)

Strategy 106. Review planning policies to enable greater control of the development of sensitive land uses in high risk lead contamination areas.

(Strategy implementation: Interagency forum, co-ordinated by the Department of Planning)

Strategy 107. Developing codes of practice and guidelines for the removal of lead based paints from non-scheduled premises. These guidelines should be distributed by local governments in conjunction with issuing development approvals, building approvals and demolition approvals.

(Strategy implementation: Standards Australia, co-ordinated by the Lead Reference Centre)

Strategy 108. Investigate waste management strategies for the disposal or re-use of urban soils and dusts contaminated with high levels of lead to prevent inappropriate use or disposal of these materials.

(Strategy implementation: EPA, Waste Service)

Strategy 109. Resolution of financial and liability issues associated with contaminated sites.

(Strategy implementation: ANZECC (work in progress))

Lead In Water And Wastewater

Data collection

Strategy 110. Conduct a water sampling program which includes the following areas:

  • high rise (complex plumbing systems)
  • schools (long run systems)
  • old urban areas

(Strategy implementation: Water Board and other local water authorities through the provision of research grants funded by appropriate Commonwealth and State authorities. NSW Public Works to develop a program for rural water authorities)

Strategy 111. Information obtained through implementation of the above should be incorporated into the education strategy where appropriate.

(Strategy implementation: Lead Reference Centre)

Strategy 112. Data collected on lead within the water and wastewater section to be included in the EPA State of the Environment report, to enable the effectiveness of reduction initiatives to be monitored.

(Strategy implementation: Data collection undertaken by water authorities and NSW Public Works. EPA to incorporate data into the State of the Environment Report)

Materials and Standards

Strategy 113. Reduce the allowable level of lead in plumbing products to the minimum practical level.

(Strategy implementation: industry, water authorities and Standards Australia, co-ordinated by the Department of Consumer Affairs)

Strategy 114. Investigate the application of environmentally benign alternatives to lead plumbing products.

(Strategy implementation: industry)

Strategy 115. Mark solders as either suitable or unsuitable for use in plumbing systems.

(Strategy implementation: industry; co-ordinated by the Department of Consumer Affairs)

Strategy 116. Develop standard methods for testing the extraction of metals from products in contact with drinking water [Australian Standard AS 4020 (interim Standard)]

(Strategy implementation. Standards Australia)

Strategy 117. Amend the draft NHMRC goal of 10 ug/L of lead in drinking water to include prescribed sampling methodologies.

(Strategy implementation: NHMRC; co-ordinated by ANZECC)

Strategy 118. Continue the campaign to reduce industrial discharges containing lead into the wastewater system.

(Strategy implementation: Water Board and local water authorities)

Education

Strategy 119. Develop comprehensive general and targeted education campaigns which:

focus on key target groups (eg carers of young children, lead industry workers and do it yourself plumbers)

focus on ways to minimise individual exposure

focus on problems associated with first draw water and the use of hot water systems used specifically for consumption purposes.

Investigate the feasibility of distributing this material with water bills and at plumbing hardware centres.

(Strategy implementation: water authorities in consultation with the Lead Reference Centre)

Water Supply and Water Treatment

Strategy 120. Develop exposure reduction strategies, especially for domestic situations, where indicated necessary by the outcome of the recommended data collection program.

(Strategy implementation: Undertaken by the relevant water authorities or Public Works in rural regions. Prevention strategies which focus on education should be developed by the Lead Reference Centre with input from relevant authorities)

Strategy 121. Where practical, introduce water treatment to reduce lead leaching rates from supply systems in high risk areas.

(Strategy implementation: Water Board/local water authorities/local government)

Strategy 122. Strictly apply the guidelines for the application of biosolids and sewage effluent to land within water supply catchments.

(Strategy implementation: Water Board/local water authorities)

Strategy 123. Investigate the efficiency of water filters to remove lead especially for schools and multileveled buildings.

(Strategy implementation: Manufacturers. Information co-ordinated and reported by the Lead Reference Centre)

Strategy 124. Investigate ways of reducing the cost to the consumer of lead analysis of drinking water in areas of high lead exposure.

(Strategy implementation: Water Board/local water authorities)

Strategy 125. Develop effective and economic mitigation techniques.

(Strategy implementation: Water Board/local water authorities)

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