How can we help prevent lead exposure?

Lead is a heavy metal that is highly toxic to children's brains and nervous systems, even at low levels. Preventing lead poisoning is an important part of children's health and is relatively easy to do, once you know how potential exposures can occur. I think you'll find the Health e House section of our website helpful. Lead can be found in toys, paint, and even drinking water pipes. Get the lead out of your home and keep it out. Parents should be especially vigilant during the holiday season because many ornaments and decorations contain lead.

If you suspect your child ha been exposed to lead, consult your physician and request a blood test. Medical tests can determine how much of the metal is present and how to address the problem.

Is there Lead in my reverse osmosis spigot?

QUESTION:
We have well water with a reverse osmosis (RO) unit under our kitchen sink. I recently met a man who was working with the laws for testing lead in Nebraska. He said that currently there are problems with many of the spigots leaching large amounts of lead into the RO water. He is trying to change the testing procedures to just test the first small amount of water that is drawn from the spigot first thing in the morning rather than the normal testing of one liter of water. He is worried that the one-liter testing is diluting the lead levels and not looking at real life use—filling up small glass of water for your child. He also said that the original spigots that come with the RO unit are not as bad; however, the replacement spigots that are often used to match other colors of kitchen faucets are sometimes showing up to ten times the allowable limit of lead. Our spigot is a replacement so I am really worried. I have contacted a state authorized lab for lead testing in water and we will be testing our RO water (both a small and one liter sample size for testing). I'm just wondering if others have heard anything about this? Does anyone know of a source for spigots that are lead free and safe from other contaminates, preferably manufactured in the USA?
Thanks!

ANSWER:
I wrote a post a couple of years ago about Lead-Free Water Faucets. I don't know what the regulations are for replacement spigots, but the lead issues may be similar.

I suggest that you test the water coming out of your R/O unit for lead to be sure.

Debra

This answer was provided by our friend, Debra Lynn Dadd. Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a pioneering consumer advocate since 1982, specializing in products and lifestyle choices that are safer for human health and the environment. She is the author of Home Safe Home.

How do you know if you have lead in your drinking water?

To find out whether your water is contaminated with lead, you can have the water tested by a lead evaluation service certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or by an EPA-approved state lead program. Call your local health department or either of the following numbers to get started:

EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1-800-426-4791
National Lead Information Center 1-800-LEAD-FYI

Why should you test your water? Even if your water is purified by your water company, by the time it comes through your faucet, it may have accumulated lead from the pipes or solder. Don’t just wonder what’s in your water, get it tested!