State of the Environment Report 2007
Atmospheric lead was addressed in the 1998 State of the Environment report but since then, its importance as an environmental issue has decreased. Unless environmental health experts consider that it increases in importance, it will not be considered in the subsequent reports.
Airborne lead particles are produced from a number of sources including the disturbance of lead-based paints used on exterior walls of houses, pollution from lead-producing industrial areas, and contaminated dust, soils and water bodies (Government of Western Australia, 1998). Prior to the introduction of unleaded petrol in WA, motor vehicle emissions contributed approximately 90% of the lead in the atmosphere, except for major point sources such as lead-smelting facilities (Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2004b).
High levels of lead in the atmosphere can have detrimental effects on human health. Lead is absorbed following inhalation of contaminated air. While small amounts may cause few or no symptoms, larger amounts have a range of effects on the body including cramps, nausea, anaemia, headaches and high blood pressure. Intellectual and developmental problems are possible side-effects in children. Historically, atmospheric lead was well above the standard in Perth, but has fallen steadily and is now at very low levels (Figure A9.1).
![Figure A9.1: Lead concentration in Perth's atmosphere over time, compared with the Australian standard for exposure, 1991-2001. [Data source: Department of Environment [ver. 2005].]](/site/files/images/Figure-A9.1_Large.jpg)
Growing concerns about the dangers of lead for human health instigated government action, including the phasing out of lead based paints in the 1970s and legislation requiring all new motor vehicles to run on unleaded petrol as of 1986 (Government of Western Australia, 1998). The lead content of leaded fuels was gradually reduced from 0.4 to 0.2 grams per litre between 1993 and 1996, and the transfer of leaded fuel to lead-replacement fuel occurred on 1 January 2000 in WA. Fuel containing lead was no longer available for sale after that date. The Commonwealth Government took the same step nation-wide two years later (Australian Institute of Petroleum, 2002).
In 1996-97 the average maximum lead level concentration in Perth's atmosphere was 0.22 micrograms per cubic metre. By 2001 this had decreased ten fold to an annual average maximum of 0.02 micrograms per cubic metre. Monitoring ceased on at the end of 2001 in response to lead levels becoming increasingly undetectable and apparently stabilised at approximately 4% of the national standard, with no exceedences (Department of Environment, 2003a). Atmospheric lead is no longer considered a problem in WA however, lead remains a significant health concern in some areas of WA (such as Esperance).
