A case study of the health impacts in an abandoned lead mining area, using children's blood lead levels

Abstract

An environmental investigation was initiated following the deaths of cattle from lead poisoning in a former Irish lead and zinc mining area. A study was undertaken to determine blood lead levels (BLL) of children living in the area over a period of three years. Dust and soil samples were collected for environmental lead exposure assessment. The BLL of the children decreased by ∼10% in each of the three years of the screening programme. These levels are at, or below, findings from similar BLL studies undertaken in former mining areas worldwide. The study in this report suggests that the elevated environmental lead (Pb) levels are not currently being transferred to humans. Community awareness of environmental health issues has increased significantly in recent years, creating the need for more detailed scientific studies that can identify potential environmental health problems. The Silvermines project was one such study. The objective of this article is to report the study findings.

Keywords:

• abandoned mines
• blood lead levels
• children
• community education programme

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge and extend their appreciation to all those members of the Silvermines community who contributed to the Silvermines Lead Level Screening Programme during the three years, the Silvermines Environmental Action Group, who served as valuable informants and liaisons between the research team and the community. The Environmental Research Technological Development and Innovation Programme (2000–2006) funded this project. Dr. Dave Mc Grath of TEAGASC provided assistant support and expertise in this research and Dr. Chaosheng Zhang provided GIS expertise support.