Esperance lead and nickel update |
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In March 2008 and 2009 and in April 2010, the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) conducted vegetation sampling studies in Esperance, as part of an ongoing five-year monitoring program following lead contamination in Esperance. This program included the sampling of old growth leaves, new growth leaves, flowers and in 2010, deciduous plants. This report considers the results from the studies conducted during the first three years of the five-year program. Visit 'OnCue - Cleaning Up Esperance' for the latest information on the Esperance cleanup and recovery project. Launched by the State Government in December 2008, the OnCue project is working to clean the Esperance townsite of lead carbonate and nickel sulphide dust that escaped from the port during ship loading over a number of years. BackgroundDuring December 2006 - March 2007, people in Esperance noticed a significant number of bird deaths in the area. Tests later revealed their bodies contained high levels of lead. Sampling and testing by DEC and the Department of Health (DoH) found that some rainwater tanks in Esperance had lead and nickel levels exceeding Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and a number of residents had elevated lead levels in their blood. With lead and nickel found in the soil, air, dust and/or rainwater in Esperance, concerns were raised that people and animals spending time in Esperance might be exposed to unacceptable health risks. The shipping of lead through Esperance Port was stopped in March 2007 and a stockpile of lead carbonate was quarantined until a safe removal plan could be agreed upon. In August 2007, the WA Government responded to a parliamentary inquiry into the cause and extent of lead pollution in Esperance. The Esperance Port Authority was subsequently convicted on five charges relating to lead contamination and one charge of emitting a nickel odour. DEC has imposed strict licence conditions on the Port to ensure that emissions continue to be reduced and future bulk metal exports do not cause any further health or environmental problems.
The Esperance Town-site Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment written by independent environmental consultants Golder Associates, considers the risks to humans and the environment from lead and nickel in air, soil, water, plants and organisms surrounding the Esperance Port.
The report makes several recommendations which are now being addressed by State Government agencies. For information on the clean up of Esperance go to www.oncue.org.au
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Vegetation Sampling Report: Esperance 2008 - 2010 (