Global mining giant Xstrata may face a number of lawsuits after a young girl from Mt Isa was found with a ‘cocktail of metals’ in her system.

6 year old Stella Hare, who has behavioural and learning difficulties and had a melanoma removed this year, had high levels of lead as well as high levels of 10 other metals in her body which was discovered in a toxicology report last week.

Swiss-based company Xstrata has been mining lead, copper and zinc in the north-west Queensland city of Mount Isa since it took over the operations from MIM Holdings in 2003.

The city of Mt Isa is built directly on an ore body and parents of young children are unconvinced that the city has safe lead levels for children.

Xstrata’s copper north Queensland chief operating officer Steve de Kruijff said the company took the issue of “lead management” very seriously and was working closely with the community and authorities.

A Queensland Health report, expected to be released in May, is predicted to show that at least 45 Mount Isa children have lead levels that could impair their behavioural and intellectual development.
Acting Premier Paul Lucas said “At the present time I understand Xstrata are operating under the limits prescribed under their Act, but what the state government is doing is bringing them under the general legislation.”

Xstrata said it was not aware of any legal action.

Lucas said the Queensland Health report would identify the priorities of any further action.
Xstrata monitored its emissions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and reported the results regularly, he said.

“The reality is that lead is literally part of the foundations of our community, and we all have a responsibility to ensure we manage our exposure,” de Kruijff said in a statement.