Research examines sustainable use of lead

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/bone_lead.jpg” caption=”The HPGe cloverleaf detector measures lead in bone. Photo courtesy of Faculty of Science.”]A lot can happen when collaboration occurs in research. No one knows that better than David Chettle, a professor in the Department of Medical Physics & Applied Radiation Sciences and the associate dean of Science, Research & External Relations in the Faculty of Science.

Chettle is the principal project investigator in a proposal that was recently funded by the Ministry of Research and Innovation, through the International Strategic Opportunities Program (ISOP). The project is entitled Sustainable use of lead in Ontario and other developed economies: assessing knowledge gaps and determining evidence based strategies to minimize health impact.

The result of the funding has been the creation of an international consortium to identify research directions on lead and lead metabolism. The consortium has assembled for a two-day inaugural workshop to discuss and share information.

“By building an international network of researchers and stakeholders, we have established a common goal,” said Chettle. “This will provide evidence on which to base the control of lead, and to assess risks of lead exposure from consumer products in the workplace and in the environment.”

Chettle adds, “By building safe practices for controlling lead use, disposal, recycling, emissions and contamination in these various environments, we are ensuring the economic sustainability of communities in Ontario and around the world.”

Led by McMaster University, this international research consortium examines state-of-the-art research techniques in lead and lead metabolism research and strategically directs the advancement of this knowledge. In this way, they hope to be able to assist in the development of guidelines and regulations that will help to govern lead exposure.

“For example,” said Chettle, “the Province of Ontario has revised the air standard for lead and that for water is under consideration. Similarly, Health Canada has recently set standards for paint and other consumer products. Such processes are under way in the U.S. and other jurisdictions.”

Chettle stressed the importance of such reviews being guided by the best evidence. Specifically, it is important to assess whether new scientific evidence warrants revisiting older models and methods. This will allow regulators to assess whether current guidelines should be adjusted.

To accomplish this task, the consortium has been composed of an expert team from academia, industry and government as well as environmental consultants. The consortium participants come from Ontario and several other provinces, as well as from the US, China, Jamaica and Portugal.

“This workshop will identify crucial needs for input and review of recent science, regulation, set priorities for additional research where this is required, and begin the assessment of adequacy of existing models of long term human lead exposure and metabolism,” said Chettle. “From this workshop will stem strongly mandated initiatives from the consortium acting together or in smaller focussed working groups to address the identified needs. It is expected that this workshop will set the platform for developing proposals to pursue the research that is identified as most needed and most urgent.”