This week, Daivs Ogilvie is supporting WasteMINZ and the global International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2025 initiative to raise awareness about the dangers of lead exposure. Running from 19-25 October, this year’s theme focuses on how there is no safe level of lead exposure and the need to take immediate action to prevent children’s exposure and protect their health.
Lead persists in the environment due to historical use in petrol additives, lead-based paints, plumbing materials, and various industrial processes. These sources have contributed to elevated lead concentrations in shallow soils predominantly in urban environments or areas of intensive use.
Unlike other contaminants, there are often no visual or olfactory signs of contamination, and therefore any lead in the soil may persist for several decades. Lead can pose a potential risk to health for those exposed to it, and in particular our Tamariki, whose nervous system is still developing.
Lead is a neurotoxin with no safe threshold for human exposure. Children are particularly vulnerable, and exposure can result in cognitive and developmental impacts[1]. Identifying and managing lead contamination is critical for safe land use and redevelopment.
Unmanaged lead contamination can pose significant risks to site users, construction workers and surrounding communities. Identifying and mitigating these risks is essential for protecting public and environmental health, for compliance with regulations, and to proactively manage risks to your projects or asset’s value. If you are concerned about the potential for lead contamination on your property, or are planning earthworks or redevelopment, engage a Suitably Qualified Experienced Practitioner in land contamination assessments.
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Davis Ogilvie (DO) is a multidisciplinary consultancy that provides comprehensive engineering, surveying and planning services, as well as specialist expertise in civil, geotechnical and structural engineering, resource management and environmental sciences.
Our environmental team works with all stakeholders and service providers to help create environmentally sustainable outcomes that are realistic and cost effective. As required by the NESCS legislation, our contaminated land investigation and management works are led / undertaken by our Suitably Qualified and Experienced Practitioners (SQEP). Our lead consultant is a Certified Environmental Practitioner – Site Contamination Specialist (CEnvP – SC).
From dirt to development, resilience to recovery, DO provides collaborative efficient solutions. DO delivers.
[1] US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.) Lead exposure symptoms and complications. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/symptoms-complications/index.html Accessed on: 20/10/2025/
