Australian wildlife at risk from metal pollution

MELBOURNE: Hazardous elements like lead and cadmium found in the hair of Australian wild animals have revealed that they are at higher risk from heavy metal pollution than humans.

Christopher McLean of the Wollongong University report their study of wildlife in the vicinity of a former lead/zinc smelter, in the journal, Science of the total environment.

"These two metals accumulate in the hair of animals," McLean, who did the research while at the Newcastle University, said, according to ABC report.

McLean said humans are typically exposed to lead and cadmium pollution via the air, especially around sources like smelters.

In the early 1990s, children around a smelter in the Newcastle suburb of Boolaroo, were found to have raised lead levels. The smelter, which was operated by Pasminco Limited, closed down in 2003.

Much of the contamination from the smelter has since been cleaned up, but McLean said some areas remain polluted. Lead levels in children were monitored until 2006, which showed that they decreased as the air cleared.

Although at last count, 4 per cent of under 13-year-olds and 7 per cent of under 5-year-olds still had raised levels.

But McLean said heavy metals have accumulated in the environment and animals, which are more likely than humans to feed off plants and insects, remain at risk.