Health concerns over lead levels at rock pools

Deputy Marc Laine has discouraged public use of the Portinfer rock pools

A States of Guernsey Deputy has raised concerns following an investigation into lead levels in rock pools.

Deputy Marc Laine conducted water tests which he said revealed the lead levels at the Portinfer bay rock pools were more than 900 times the safe level for drinking water and discouraged public use of the rock pools, children playing in the area and people eating shellfish from the pools.

Deputy Laine credited the high levels to the bullets landing in the area from the shooting range which is located in front of it.

Guernsey Clay Target Shooting Club has operated in the area for almost 60 years and said it had been working with environmental health to address the situation.

Deputy Laine said he wanted warning signs to be installed

Deputy Laine said: "They [the test results] are incredibly concerning from a health perspective - once lead is in your system you can't get it out."

He said he wanted signs to be installed to warn the public about the potential danger in the area.

Guernsey Clay Target Shooting Club said it had been aware of the problem for quite some time.

Secretary, James Rouget, said the club had not been approached by Deputy Laine for comment.

Mr Rouget said the club had been working with environmental health over the last five years to make changes to prevent high levels of lead bullets at Portinfer.

He said the club cleaned lead bullets from the area up to two times a week using commercial machines and kept track of how many bullets had been used.

"As long as we clean more than we shoot, we can clear the ancestral bullets," Mr Rouget added.

In 2029, the national Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA) will switch from lead bullets to steel and the club said it would follow these guidelines.