AAP reported that a string of law suits has been flagged against Swiss mining giant Xstrata after preliminary test results revealed one in 10 children in the north west Queensland town of Mount Isa had dangerously high levels of lead in their blood. Lead can stunt the development of children's brains.

As per report, lawyers are preparing a test case for the family of six year old Stella Hare, who they allege suffers learning and behavioral problems as a result of Xstrata's heavy metal emissions.

Law firm Slater and Gordon, known for landmark asbestosis cases, claims she is one of at least 45 children that Queensland Health has found to have high lead levels.

Lawyer Damien Scattini said "What we're trying to show is that Xstrata has come into this country from Switzerland, it's purchased this mine, it's extracting record profits and it's at the cost of the community. A large part of the community is being poisoned by not only lead but if you look at the results for Stella, she's got cadmium, she's got arsenic, she's got strontium. She's got about 10 different heavy metals and poisons in her system at toxic levels."

Mr Scattini believes Xstrata's emissions have affected far more than 45 people because some of them are now adults and have not been tested by Queensland Health.