This article was published in Environmental Geochemistry and Health (1996). It summarizes the approach and studies from the first 5-years of the Trail Lead Task Force.
The Task Force had responsibility for developing a strategy to reduce children’s blood lead levels in Trail. With funding from the provincial government, the smelting company and the municipal government, the Task Force carried out blood lead screening, case management, community education, exposure pathways modelling and remediation trials. The decline in children’s blood lead levels appeared to accelerate following the implementation of these programmes.
Throughout the 5-year history of the Task Force, its members demonstrated a strong sense of common purpose and worked cooperatively to reach consensus on most issues.
