| Lead in drinking water has always been a major | | | | coating has yet to be built in new houses. |
| concern with health authorities in the last few | | | | Houses where the fixtures – the faucets and |
| decades. The reason behind this is that lead | | | | the fittings – are made of brass are also |
| poisoning is now proven to be dangerous or even | | | | prone to having lead levels in water. |
| fatal in extreme cases. Children are especially | | | | How to Protect Ourselves from Lead in Drinking |
| susceptible to lead poisoning because the lead in | | | | Water |
| their systems can build up over time, as they | | | | The only way we can ever know if there is lead |
| grow older. | | | | in our drinking water is to test for lead in the |
| What can Lead in Our Drinking Water do to us? If | | | | water. Lead Testing in water is done in a |
| our exposure to lead is mild, we would probably | | | | laboratory. The testing procedure varies, but |
| experience nausea, abdominal pain, headache, | | | | samples are always brought to the laboratory. |
| insomnia, and chest pain. We could also become | | | | The acceptable level of lead in drinking water is no |
| either hyperactive or lethargic. Continued | | | | more than 15 parts per billion (ppb). One ppb is |
| exposure, however, can lead to anemia, weight | | | | equal to 1 microgram (or 0.001 milligram) of lead |
| loss, kidney failure and coma. While death is rare | | | | per liter of water. |
| in lead poisoning, it can nonetheless become fatal. | | | | If your water is tested positive for high levels of |
| In children, continuous exposure to lead in drinking | | | | lead, you should contact the authorities if you are |
| water slows down their mental development. | | | | using water from a public source. But if you are |
| Their IQs become lower and their performance in | | | | using water from a well or from any private |
| school becomes poor. This is over and above the | | | | source, you should get a filter for your water and |
| other health problems that lead poisoning can | | | | you should replace this filter regularly. |
| cause. | | | | Another thing you can do to avoid lead poisoning |
| How We Get Lead in Our Drinking Water | | | | is to let the water run from your faucet for |
| High levels of lead in drinking water are observed | | | | around two minutes before using it if the water |
| in two places: in houses built in the 1930s or | | | | has been standing for more than six hours (while |
| earlier, and in houses less than five years old. Old | | | | you were sleeping or while you were out at |
| buildings have high levels of lead in its water | | | | work). Letting the water run flushes the lead out. |
| because the pipes used for plumbing prior to the | | | | Also, instead of using the hot water from your |
| 1930s were made of lead. | | | | tap, you should instead use cold water for |
| New houses – that is, houses less than five | | | | cooking, drinking and preparing baby formula. More |
| years old – are also susceptible to getting | | | | lead is dissolved in hot water. |
| exacerbated levels of lead in the water. The | | | | Lead poisoning is dangerous, if not entirely fatal. |
| copper pipes being used in plumbing newer houses | | | | Testing for lead in your water is the only way |
| and buildings still contain lead solder. As time | | | | you would know that your drinking water is safe |
| passes, the minerals in the water form a layer of | | | | from lead contamination. |
| coating on the inner side of the pipes, but this | | | | |