Optus Stadium lead debate: Expert backs water test methods

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THE world’s top expert on lead poisoning, credited with removing lead from petrol and paint, yesterday described the WA Government’s position on lead testing at Optus Stadium as “nonsense”.

New York-based Professor Philip Landrigan has joined other experts in backing the sampling technique used by The Sunday Times, which found elevated levels of lead — up to 14 times higher than the guideline maximum — in water from six drinking fountains outside the stadium.

The WA Government claims the newspaper, which used two accredited laboratories, should have flushed the taps for two to three minutes before taking samples.