Q: What about the water in my community? How do I know if it’s really safe?
A: The nation’s aging water infrastructure involves lead pipes or connections; while these were banned for new construction in the late 1980s, many remain in use today. Although they are being replaced in some communities, including, water companies also use approved chemical additives in an effort to keep lead in pipes from leaching into the water they carry.
State Department agencies also offers tips for residents to reduce the impact of lead in their water, like running the taps for 15 to 30 seconds if they haven’t been active in a while and using only cold water for cooking or mixing baby formula. It also cautions that boiling does not remove lead from the water.
Q: Apart from water systems, where else does lead come from?
A: For children, the primary source of lead poisoning comes from older homes and apartments with lead-based paint, which was banned in 1977. Youngsters ingest the substance if they eat paint chips from walls — which can have a sweet taste, experts note — or get paint dust on their hands and then put their fingers in their mouths; the paint dust is commonly found on baseboards or window ledges.
Adults are at risk for inhaling or unknowingly swallowing traces of the same lead-tainted dust. Lead is also an ingredient in some jewelry and toys and, in some countries, it is a component of the plastic-making process. In addition, it is found in car batteries and other auto parts, some plumbing components, bullets, and fishing weights, so people who work in related fields can be exposed on the job. This dust is also carried home on their clothes and belongings and can be a hazard for children who then come in contact with these items.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, lead — a heavy, malleable blue-grey metal — “was one of the first metals used by humans and consequently, the cause of the first recorded occupational disease (lead colic in a 4th century BC metal worker).”
Q: What are the symptoms of lead exposure? What should I do if someone in my family may have been exposed?
A: While lead poisoning can occur at any age, exposure is particularly dangerous for young children as it can impact their neurological development and have life-long effects on health and behavior. Although some people may not show any symptoms, lead can impact the central-nervous system. And, particularly in children, it can cause headaches, stomach issues, agitation or drowsiness, or — when severe — vomiting and convulsions, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
A blood test is needed to determine if someone has absorbed lead; sometimes the test can be done with a finger prick only; at other times, it requires drawing blood from a vein.
Q: What else can I do to protect my family from lead exposure and its impact?
A: If you live in an old home, removing the source of the contamination is important — but remediating a place with lead paint is complicated, time-consuming and costly. Eradicating lead from water lines involves major construction or system-wide changes. Experts urge families with small children to keep windowsills, baseboards and play areas as clean as possible and free of lead paint dust, and address areas with peeling paint.
Parents and children in these homes should also wash their hands frequently; experts said there is no evidence to show that lead is absorbed through the skin, so washing and bathing in water that may have elevated levels of the substance does not increase the risk of exposure. Also, adults who work in industries that involve lead should change clothes when they come home.
In addition, research suggests a healthy diet can also help reduce the impact of lead on the body. Foods rich in calcium, iron and vitamin C can prevent the toxin from being absorbed by the body, according to health care experts. Milk, cheese and leafy green vegetables are key sources of calcium; lean meats, beans and peanut butter are good options for iron; and vitamin C can be found in citrus, certain fruit juices, and red and green peppers. Some studies have shown that fast food and other higher-fat meals can make children absorb lead faster.
Q: What if I want to get my home tested for lead, just to be sure?
A: There are plenty of private contractors who will test for lead and remove it, but experts urge residents to start with their local health department. Some municipalities have programs that provide free testing, or work with other towns or nonprofit organizations to offer these services.
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