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Lead, a highly toxic metal, may be present in drinking water. Lead cannot be seen, smelled or tasted; it is necessary to have drinking water tested to determine the presence of lead.
Because lead rarely occurs naturally in the water supply, any contamination that occurs in drinking water is likely a result of corrosion in the water delivery system. When water and lead mix in service connections, pipes, brass fixtures and solder, the water can become contaminated.
Lead pipes in homes built in the early 1900s often produce high levels of lead in the drinking water. Homes built before 1930 were commonly fitted with lead piping, which also exposes the water to the possibility of contamination. After 1930, copper piping replaced lead piping, but lead solder was still used to join the copper pipes, creating a lead hazard in homes built until the late 1980s.
Today, nearly 100 percent of all homes are built with brass materials, which contain a miniscule amount of lead. The lead content of all brass components has been restricted to 8 percent. Still, even though levels may be limited, lead can leak from the fittings and seep into the water, creating a danger for anyone who drinks it.
The health effects of lead exposure are cumulative. Small levels of lead can accumulate in the body until toxic levels are reached and permanent damage is done. Studies have shown that there is no safe level of lead exposure. In fact, when Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal for lead at zero. The government requires water companies to regularly collect and test water for lead levels and work to control corrosion in areas where lead levels are high.
Lead from drinking water enters the bloodstream through the digestive system and then spreads quickly through the body. The negative effects of continuous exposure to lead from drinking water are often irreversible, causing high blood pressure, damage to the nervous system, brain and kidneys. Lead ingestion poses a serious risk for fetuses, infants and children, whose nervous systems are still developing. Lead exposure can lead to behavioral and developmental problems, learning disabilities and slowed growth.
Boiling water will not remove lead. If you suspect that there is lead in your drinking water, use only cold water for cooking or drinking, and run water for 15 to 30 seconds before using it, especially if the faucet has been turned off for a while. Only the water company can detect and work to remove lead from the water supply.
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