In Trail, B.C., while school children are back in classes, a unique end-of-summer tradition takes place for children under three: blood testing to assess lead levels in their bodies. Since 1991, Interior Health public health nurses have conducted these tests for children aged six months to three years due to historical concerns about lead smelter emissions in the area.
Lead, a toxic substance, occurs naturally in rock and soil but is also released into the environment through mining and smelting activities. People are commonly exposed to lead through food, water, and products containing the substance, with individuals residing near smelters facing higher exposure rates.
Trail is home to one of North America’s last lead smelters, operated by Teck Resources and employing over 1,400 individuals. The city, Teck Resources, and the local health authority partnered with the province to establish the Trail Area Health and Environment Program (THEP). This initiative conducts lead testing in air, soil, and blood, alongside educational campaigns and dust control measures.
Despite efforts to reduce emissions, trace amounts of lead are still detected in testing. Recent data from 2024 revealed an average lead blood level of 2.2 micrograms per decilitre in children under three years old. Experts emphasize that no level of lead in blood is safe, citing potential health risks even at minimal exposure levels.
THEP’s testing program focuses on young children as they are prone to lead exposure, particularly through lead dust when crawling and hand-to-mouth contact. The program aims for the lowest possible lead levels in each child and provides education and support to families in the Trail area.
Although education and testing are crucial, experts stress the need for more proactive measures to prevent lead exposure in individuals of all ages, citing lead poisoning as a significant risk factor for heart attacks. Balancing the challenge of reducing lead exposure while sustaining the local economy in communities like Trail, heavily reliant on lead-related industries, remains a complex task.