Pregnant women pass lead to their unborn babies through their blood. A newborn baby’s blood lead level is the same as their mother’s. In Broken Hill, a test of the umbilical cord is taken at birth to check a baby’s blood lead level.
Children under 5 years of age are more likely to be at risk of harm from lead. That is why the Broken Hill Community Health Centre and Maari Ma Health offer free blood lead testing from six months of age, in line with immunisation. In the test, your child’s finger is pricked with a needle to get a very small blood sample. These results are immediate and let you know if their lead level is increasing. If the levels are high – 5 or above – it may mean there are sources of lead exposure around the home, and help will be available to help you identify these sources and reduce them.
If you think you or a child – 5 years of age or older – has been exposed to high levels of lead, or has been carrying out activities that may put them at risk of exposure (e.g. home renovations) you should contact your local doctor to arrange a blood lead test.
| Child age | Immunisation | Lead test |
|---|---|---|
| 6 weeks | ✓ |
|
| 4 months | ✓ |
|
| 6 months | ✓ | ✓ |
| 9 months |
| ✓ |
| 12 months | ✓ | ✓ |
| 18 months | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2 years |
| ✓ |
| 3 years |
| ✓ |
| 4 years | ✓ | ✓ |
LeadSmart
LeadSmart is a NSW Government initiative delivered in partnership with the Environment Protection Authority, NSW Health and Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation.
