EHINZ member drives revision to blood lead levels

Posted 3 years ago by Patrick Hipgrave Less than a minute to read

Congratulations to our colleague Dr. Deborah Read, who has just had a major public health success. Due to Deborah’s analysis of the epidemiological and toxicological evidence of lead exposure and NZ’s likely lead exposure, together with her sustained commitment over many years to seeing change, the government has agreed to lower the notifiable blood lead level from 0.48 µmol/l to 0.24 µmol/l from the 9th of April 2021. Deborah was also instrumental in getting the previous level of 0.48 µmol/l mandated.

Here is the link to the Ministry of Health’s website with the announcement of the new level:

https://www.health.govt.nz/news-media/news-items/reduction-blood-lead-notification-level