Battery plant offers free lead poison tests

Photo / Thinkstock

Lower Hutt residents living near a battery recycling plant are being offered free lead poison blood tests.

The Exide plant in Petone has been dogged by problems, including harmful lead emissions, an explosion and a fire.

It has twice been convicted for breaching emission standards.

According to Exide's latest newsletter, the company is seeking renewal of its resource consents and consultation with locals revealed many had fears over the potential health impacts of lead exposure, Fairfax Media reported.

Lead poisoning can affect brain development, and cause vomiting, stomach pains, loss of appetite and, in extreme cases, brain damage and death.

Exide said voluntary blood tests would be available to anyone living or working within 250m of the plant.

The results would be sent to the individual as well as Exide and would be made public at the resource consent hearing.

It said regular tests of Exide workers had not revealed elevated lead levels.

- NZPA