Does my drinking water at home contain lead?
This is a good question to ask yourself, if you aren’t sure of the answer.
- Up to 20% of Americans’ lead exposure comes from drinking water (says CNN)
- Many older homes and public water systems still have lead plumbing fixtures
- You can protect your family by testing for lead and other contaminants
How can I find out? Start by calling your municipal water supplier.
The EPA says between 10% -20% of our exposure to lead comes from contaminated water. Children are babies are most at risk. Babies can get between 40% and 60% of their exposure to lead by drinking formula mixed with contaminated water.
Lead “bio-accumulates” in the body, which means it stays and builds up over time, so ongoing exposure, even at extremely low levels, can become toxic. While the EPA says you can’t absorb lead through the skin while showering or bathing with lead-contaminated water, you certainly don’t want to drink it, cook with it, make baby formula with it or use it to brush your teeth.
Read more from CNN’s article, here.
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