Lead in Child Care
I sent this letter to Fremantle City Councillors today. It references the Lead Advisory Service Australia website which in turn now references our original media release regarding toxic child care in WA.
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From the Lead Advisory Service Australia
http://www.lead.org.au/lanv3n1/lanv3n1-6.html
“There are no specific rules to assist authorities assess the lead or other toxin contamination of a site.
“Sutherland Shire Council recently adopted a resolution (an interim measure until a formal policy can be adopted) saying it would no longer approve child care centres on heavily trafficked roads until a full risk analysis of lead and other airborne contaminants has been completed. We hope they won’t be missing soil and dust lead. If the lead is already there, the airborne lead is just adding to the contamination. Lead is just one reason not to have child-care centres on busy roads.”
These decisions must be specific to safe levels for children, not the general population.
See the comments on my website posted re: acceptable levels by a senior town planning lawyer who is following this issue closely, eg. “Measurable limits can be described as a worst case scenario. Above that science says that the limits are intolerable. That is merely for the average person - ie an adult. Where are the studies for such impacts on children of tender years??? I wonder if they even exist.”
Not to mention noise… see previous research forwarded from a contact in Child Care Licensing re: noise and learning. When we were on site for a photo with the Gazette the other day, the children there with me spontaneously put their hands over their ears. That was for only 10 minutes at 3pm. Not 5pm when traffic will be even worse and children will still be outside.
Please remember the Education Department’s practice of, when in doubt, use “Prudent Avoidance”.
If you were to simply spend an hour at this site during peak traffic, Monday - Friday, the answer would be clear.. let alone 10, 20 or 30 hours a week.
Regards
Libby Davy