In short:
A Victorian study found 99.5 per cent of chemical results from household dust were below health-protective screening thresholds. Researchers say lead remains a concern, particularly in older homes with a history of lead-based paint.
Lead Contamination An Ongoing Risk
A study of household dust across Victoria has found low levels of potentially harmful chemicals, but researchers say lead contamination remains a concern, particularly in older homes.
EPA Victoria researchers tested 132 dust and soil samples supplied by 44 residents through its GardenSafe citizen science program.
Samples were tested for chemicals including PFAS, pesticides, hydrocarbons and pharmaceuticals, as well as metals such as lead and arsenic.
Researchers detected 184 chemicals, with 99.5 per cent of results falling below health-protective screening thresholds.
However, one household dust sample recorded lead above the threshold, which researchers linked to historical contamination from lead-based paint.
Lead has also been one of the most commonly detected soil contaminants through GardenSafe, particularly around older and inner-urban homes due to its historical use in paint and petrol.
EPA Senior Health Risk Advisor Kara Fry said the household dust findings were largely reassuring.
“What we found was reassuring – with the exception of that one lead result, the chemicals we measured were at levels that weren’t considered to be a risk to human health,” Ms Fry said.
The study also found differences between indoor dust and outdoor soil.
Low levels of PFAS, pharmaceuticals, caffeine by-products and sunscreen additives were among the substances detected inside homes.
Researchers said the results suggest legacy contaminants such as heavy metals remain a greater concern than many emerging chemicals tested.
EPA is encouraging Victorians concerned about lead or other metal contamination in their backyard soil to use its free GardenSafe testing service.
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