Download the test results for lead paint on the HMAS Adelaide undetaken during the AAT Hearing after the lead was discovered by community funded marine engineer and ship recycling expert Mr Werner Hoyt. Download PDF.
The average pure lead content is 28% and varies up to 40%. The lab warns not to use these results to average amounts of lead on the ship. This is how the State calculated lead levels of 750 kg - 2.3 tonnes of lead in the lead paint.
The lead paint covers most of the 23,000 metres sq interior and the AAT orders only require the removal of ‘exfoliating’ lead paint before the ship is scuttled.
Information on Lead from Dr Peter deFur in response to State Government reports that the lead is inert.
1. Lead Oxides
1. a.) The additional reports include the opinion that lead is completely inert. Lead oxides are not very soluble, but they can be acted upon and changed by organisms in the environment to make them bioavailable.
1. b.) Lead tetroxide, Pb3O4 (red lead) is a lead oxide, as is PbO and PbO2, and chemically similar in its activity.
1. c.) Studies on PbO and PbO2 show their ability to solubilize under certain conditions.
2. Microbial Activity
2. a.) Under anaerobic conditions, organic compounds can reduce metal oxides from a higher to a lower oxidation state (i.e. remove or add oxygen).
2. b.) Along with oxidation, conversion of lead compounds is possible by bacteria. Bacteria produce hydrogen sulphide, a byproduct of utilizing sulphur-containing amino acids, which can interact with lead creating lead sulphide.
2. c.) Microorganisms play a role in reducing metal oxides by direct or indirect action: directly by enzymatic dissolution and indirectly due to production of metabolites such as acids and chelating agents that can lower pH.
2. d .) Bacteria has the ability to oxidize bivalent lead (add oxygen to a metal).
2. e .) Lead can form a weak complex with organic acids and data shows that significant amounts of solubilized lead was taken up by bacterial biomass, which produce organic metabolites.
2. f.) Bacteria and other microorganisms constitute the base of the food chain, and although lead is not known to biomagnify up the food chain, lead can bioaccumulate in the tissues of organisms.
3. Aquatic uptake
3. a.) We know that lead uptake by aquatic organisms occurs through water by absorption through skin, gills and intestine, as well as by food.
3. b.) A wide range of aquatic organisms can absorb and accumulate very high lead concentrations, and the resident time of lead is related to the route of uptake.
3. c.) The vessel will corrode and break down over time. These small particles of the very toxic red lead in the vessel paint will become bioavailable and be consumed by reef organisms via water and food.
NSW Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson is completely confident the controversial scuttling of the decommissioned HMAS Adelaide will not harm the environment. 
