A Division of Arctic Refrigeration and Merchandise Inc.
| HISTORY | ||||
Lead
People, and children in particular, are at risk if they ingest lead ... especially if they are six or
younger. Even low lead levels are reported to cause the following types of problems: poor mental
performance, low weight at birth, interference with the metabolism of Vitamin D, delayed growth
and neurological development, and poor attention span.
Dr. Sue Binder, chief of the lead poisoning branch at the Centers of Disease Control in Atlanta,
Georgia, reports, "We see decreased intelligence, hearing problems and smaller stature as a result
of lead exposure. Binder says that even moderate levels of exposure can interfere with the ability
to pay attention and may play an important role in learning disorders and antisocial behavior.
According to some national health experts over 60 million homes are potential lead hazards due to
lead-based paints which may disintegrate into dust. Parents in older homes should take steps to
clean toys often. Children should be trained to clean their hands before eating and put only food
and water into their mouths.
Drinking water may be even more hazardous than the paint dust. The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) reports that lead in drinking water contributes to about 20% of the total lead
exposure for the average citizen. The EPA has also reported that more than 85% of the blood
lead detected in bottle-fed infants comes from drinking formula made with lead-bearing water. A
Scottish study concluded that the soluble lead levels in water were significantly higher in the home,
and in the blood, of retarded children compared to the blood of healthy children.
The EPA has established an 'action' threshold level of 15 parts per billion (ppb), that is, if your
drinking water tests at levels exceeding 15 ppb actions should be taken to reduce the levels. This
very low threshold shows how toxic lead really is. The problem is compounded by the fact that
our senses cannot detect lead at this level . . . you can't smell, taste, or see the lead.
The good news is that the waters in lakes and streams normally do not contain lead. The bad news
is that the water distribution system-water mains, service lines, household copper pipe's which
have been joined with lead-based solder, and some faucets, may be made, in part, with lead
alloys. Homes built before 1930 are likely to have lead pipes. Between 1930 and 1986, most of
the homes built used copper pipe and are likely to have lead-solder joints. In 1986, Congress
banned the use of solder containing more than 0.2% lead and also set a limit of 8% lead in all
faucets, piping, and pipe fittings.
Since you can't detect lead in drinking water by sight, smell, or taste, the only way to be sure that
your drinking and cooking water does not exceed the action threshold is to test it. Until your water
has been tested, there are some actions that you can take to reduce the risk of ingesting toxic
levels of lead. Because the lead content in your drinking water increases with the amount of time
that it spends in contact with lead (lead which may be in the pipes, fittings, and/or faucets) lead
content is highest in water that's first drawn in the morning. By simply allowing the water to run for
a few minutes, the high-lead content water in the lines will be flushed out. It's also a good idea to
use only cold water for cooking purposes. The higher the temperature of the water, the higher the
rate at which lead leaches into the water.