A NATIONAL site to dispose of lead-contaminated soil is currently being sought by various government entities, which are seeking to provide a proper disposal site for the deadly material.
The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), one of the agencies working to find a site, is also currently looking at the prospects of establishing a proper hazardous waste disposal site for the island.
According to Ann Marie Rodrigues, operations director at the Authority, a review of the prospects is currently being done.
"NEPA (National Environment and Planning Agency), the Ministry of Health and ourselves are very much aware that we need a hazardous waste site," she said.
The Authority is in the process of collaborating with the aforementioned government agencies to find a disposal site for leadcontaminated soil found in the informal settlement of Mona Commons, in St. Andrew.
Recently, the International Centre for Nuclear Sciences (ICENS) at the University of the West Indies uncovered a number of cases of lead poisoning in St. Andrew and St. Catherine while conducting research among children under six years old.
Some of the cases discovered had required urgent medical attention which has been provided. However, medical standards require that the areas be cleaned before the children are returned home.
Five children who were released from hospital more than a week ago have had to be temporarily housed at a children's home until the clean-up exercise is completed.
