This article is a critical analysis of the study published in *The Science of the Total Environment*. 2003; 303: 125-38. The area surrounding the Pasminco metal smelter in Australia has been known for many years to be contaminated by heavy metals, particularly lead. Environmental monitoring campaigns (air, soil, household dust) as well as blood lead level screening among young children (ages 1–4) revealed alarming results in 1991: 84% of the children screened in North Lake Macquarie had blood lead levels above the 100 ug/l guideline value recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). A management committee was then appointed. An exposure reduction program aimed at decontaminating contaminated environments (soil and dust) and reducing the facility’s emission levels was initiated. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of lead pollution reduction strategies in North Lake Macquarie. This evaluation is of paramount importance. All too often, projects stop at implementation without proposing an evaluation mechanism from the outset. Unfortunately, this article does not describe the evaluation method used. It highlights the lack of scientific analysis of the situation, both regarding the definition of the study area and the potential exposures of the population and its characterization. What remains is a series of observations that leave the analysis of the coherence and effectiveness of the actions feeling incomplete. Finally, the article reveals the difficulties of bringing all stakeholders together to collectively establish objectives to be achieved. In this case, everyone followed their own logic. The result could only be failure. (Excerpt from the article)