Queensland Health will today release the results of blood tests on 400 children from the northwest mining town, which are expected to show that at least 45 children have levels that could impair their behavioural and intellectual development.

Dr Mark Taylor of Sydney's Macquarie University's physical geography department went to Mount Isa in 2001 to study the Leichhardt River.

He said he became curious about possible contaminants when he realised the mine was located upstream from the town's drinking water source.

The environmental scientist was surprised to discover no prior research had been done.

"I found nothing, I couldn't find a thing, and I went 'That's really interesting, why wouldn't somebody ... have undertaken research into environmental contaminants in a mining town like this?'," Dr Taylor said on ABC radio.

He has since looked at contaminants in the river system and found lead levels near the mine were "significantly" above those recommended.

Dr Taylor said he had also tested soil in the catchment area and found a range of soil metal levels, from elevated to low.

"Basically as you move east, away from the mine, those levels fall off quite significantly," he said.

He estimated about 900 homes were built on contaminated land.

"It would be hundreds of children who have been affected," he said.

A former Mount Isa health officer yesterday revealed he warned the city council of high lead levels in local children more than two decades ago.

Ted Prickett said authorities had ignored his warnings because they did not want to harm the local mining industry.

Dr Taylor said that when he tried to access historical results of soil and water testing from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) he was "incredulous" when told there was none.

After years of studying lead in the town, Dr Taylor said he would think twice about living there.
"It depends where," he said. "And I would have to look at it quite carefully."