Lead is a toxic metal that is harmful if inhaled or swallowed.
Lead can be found in air, soil, dust, food, and water.
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The greatest exposure to lead is swallowing or breathing in lead paint chips and dust. Lead also can be found in some household plumbing materials and water service lines.
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Typically, lead gets into your water after the water leaves your local treatment plant or your well. That is, the source of lead in your home's water is most likely pipe or solder in your home’s own plumbing. The most common cause is corrosion. Corrosion is a dissolving or wearing away of metal caused by a chemical reaction between water and your plumbing.
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Yes. The U.S. EPA has sent an Action Level for lead at 15 parts per billion. Fewer than 1 in 10 homes sampled are allowed to exceed this Action Level. If the Action Level is exceeded in 10% or more of the homes tested, then additional corrective actions are required under federal regulations.
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EPA has established an Action Level for lead in drinking water of 15 parts per billion. The Action Level was not designed to measure health risks from water represented by individuals samples. Rather, it is a statistical trigger value that if exceeded, may require additional types of treatment, public education, and possibly lead service line replacement.
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FLUSH YOUR SYSTEM: Let the water run from the tap before using it for drinking or cooking any time the water in a faucet had gone unused for more than six (6) hours. The longer water resides in plumbing the more lead it may contain. Flushing the tap means running the cold water faucet for about 15-30 seconds. Although toilet flushing or showering flushes water through a portion of the plumbing system, you still need to flush each faucet before using it for drinking or cooking. Flushing tap water is a simple and inexpensive measure you can take to protect your health. It usually uses less than one or two gallons of water.
USE ONLY COLD WATER FOR COOKING AND DRINKING: Do not cook with, or drink water from the hot water tap. Hot water can dissolve more lead more quickly than cold water. If you need hot water, draw from the cold tap and then heat it.
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The health effects of lead are most
severe for infants and children. For infants and children, exposure to high levels of lead in drinking water can result in delays in physical or mental development. For adults, it can result in kidney problems or high blood pressure.
The main sources of exposure to lead are ingesting paint chips and inhaling dust. Infants who consume mostly mixed formula can receive 40 to 60 percent of their exposure to lead from drinking water.
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"Lead poisoning can cause serious
health and development problems in children, but it’s very
preventable. We’re hoping, especially during this week (October
23, 2006), that people take a good look around their homes,
daycare centers and schools for potential sources of lead
poisoning, and eliminate them in order to protect our kids,”
said Gov. Blagojevich.
For additional information, follow this link
to the
State of Illinois-News Network.
Children
who are at risk of exposure to lead, should be tested.
Your doctor or local health center can perform a simple blood test to determine your child’s blood-lead level.
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To help block the storage of lead in your child’s body, serve your family meals that are low-fat and high in calcium and iron, including dairy products and green vegetables.
Use bottled water.
Boiling your water will
not get rid of lead.
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EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1-800-426-4791
National Lead Information Center 1-800-424-LEAD
Resources used:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
