NSW Health resists lower blood lead guidelines for children in Broken Hill, documents reveal

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 1 min read 100% complete by Natasha May Health reporterDecember 11, 2025 at 03:00 PM

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Documents reveal that NSW Health resisted lowering blood lead guidelines for children in Broken Hill, despite government advice and evidence suggesting harm at lower levels. The Department of Premier and Cabinet urged a whole-of-government response to lower the blood lead investigation threshold from 5μg/dL to 3.5μg/dL. This recommendation stemmed from concerns that even low levels of lead exposure can negatively impact children's brain development. The situation in Broken Hill, a town with a history of lead contamination, has prompted criticism from a Greens MP regarding inadequate funding for addressing the issue. The documents highlight a discrepancy between government recommendations and NSW Health's actions concerning lead exposure protections for children.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

New South Wales 60% NSW Health 70% Broken Hill ×280%

Keywords

blood lead levels 100% lead contamination 90% children's health 80% nsw health 70% broken hill 70% health guidelines 60% government advice 50% blood lead investigation threshold 50%