Lead (Pb) In Drinking Water

A technical paper by Olympian Water Testing specialists

Lead In Drinking Water

Lead is a toxic earth’s crust metal used by different industries for its durability, including manufacturing plumbing materials decades ago. Lead pipes, faucets, and plumbing fixtures are the main sources of lead in drinking water. Lead may be present in some water pipes transporting drinking water from the water source to the house. Lead may also be present in household plumbing fixtures, welding solder, and pipe fittings manufactured before 1986 [1]. Lead causes debilitating disabilities and The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) state that there are no known safe levels of lead in a child’s blood. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1986 and 1996 and the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule are some of the regulations put in place to deal with the issue of lead in water and the prevention of lead poisoning to children [2, 3]. However, it is also true that both children and adults are still exposed to lead in drinking water. Therefore, action should be taken to reduce exposure to lead and improve health outcomes.

We aim to educate you about Lead contamination of water, its effect on your health, what you can do mitigate them and how to decontaminate water.

Lead exposure in the United States of America

Between the early and mid-20^th century, lead water pipes were installed in some of the country’s biggest cities. They were recommended for durability, as they could last between 75 and 100 years. Today, there may be as many as 12 million lead pipes across the United States (US) [4], resulting in elevated amounts of lead in tap water in places such as daycares, schools, and homes over time in different cities. Between 2018 and 2020, up to 56% of the population drank lead-contaminated water in cities across the US [5].

How Does Lead Get into Drinking Water?

Corrosion

The most common way lead can get into drinking water is when plumbing materials or pipes containing lead are corroded in a chemical reaction. This type of exposure happens in scenarios where their water has a low mineral content and high acidity, and the system is comprised of lead faucets, pipes, and fixtures [1].

Homes with lead service lines are the highest source of lead in water. Lead pipes are commonly found in homes that were built before 1986. However, if the home does not have lead service lines, the most common problem that would cause lead contamination are plumbing with lead solder or chrome and brass-plated faucets [1, 5].

The amount of lead in the water will be affected by the following:

The minerals in the water and the amounts of these minerals
The acidity/alkalinity of the water
The temperature of the water
The amount of lead in the water
The wear of the pipes
Presence of protective coatings and scales in the pipes
The time the water stands in the pipe

Inadequate Municipal Water Treatment

Utilities should conduct water quality monitoring and treat water so that drinking water provided to consumers is safe. Unfortunately, most cities are not treating their water safely. A good example is the case of Washington, DC, which in 2001 changed its disinfectant to chloramines from chlorine. Unfortunately, due to their failure to study the effects of chloramines, the water became more corrosive, which led to high lead levels in the city [6].

Water systems should use zinc orthophosphate and other anti-corrosion chemicals to coat lead pipes and fixtures to reduce lead corrosion, leaching, and flaking [7].

The Lead and Copper Rule

The EPA established the Lead and Copper Rule in 1991 [3]. Over time, this rule has undergone several revisions. However, the main mandate of the EPA has been to ensure that the systems are constantly monitoring drinking water from consumer taps. Lead concentrations are required to stay below an action level of 15 ppb, while copper concentrations should not exceed 1.3 ppm in more than 10% of the sampled consumer taps. If these levels go beyond these amounts, corrosion should be controlled, and the public should be informed about the necessary steps to take to protect their health. In some cases, lead service lines may have to be replaced to control the lead levels in the water.

What are the Health Effects of Exposure to the Metal Lead?

The Safe Water Drinking Act mandates the Environmental Protection Agency to determine contaminant levels in drinking water [2]. The contaminants should remain at a level that does not cause adverse effects on the consumers’ health. These standards are commonly known as maximum contaminant level goals.

For lead, the maximum contaminant level goal is 0. This level stands at 0 because lead is toxic and causes adverse effects on human health, even when exposed to low levels. Furthermore, lead is a persistent metal that accumulates in the human body over time.

Children

Lead can especially be harmful to fetuses, infants, and children at relatively low levels and can cause behavioral and physical changes in these groups compared to adults [1, 8]. Therefore, a low dose of lead that would have minimal effect on an adult could affect a child more drastically.

Children are also at a higher risk of lead exposure because their bodies are developing rapidly and can take in the lead more effectively if exposed [9]. They also touch different objects and put their hands and these objects into their mouths, making lead dust a significant source of exposure for them.

Some of the effects of lead exposure on children include [8, 9];

Damage to the peripheral and central nervous system
A shorter stature or impaired growth
Impairment in the function and formation of blood cells
Learning and behavioral disabilities
Impaired hearing
Hyperactivity and lower IQ
Anemia

Therefore, the CDC recommends that public health actions be initiated if the level of lead in the child’s blood exceeds 3.5 micrograms per deciliter [10].

Apart from exposure to lead through water, children can be exposed to lead through paint, soil, dust, air, and food. Interestingly, if the level of lead in a child’s blood exceeds the levels set by CDC, it is likely that the child is exposed to lead through different sources. However, exposure to water may make up for up to 20% of the person’s total exposure to lead, and the level can go up to 40% for children who consume mixed formula [11].

Pregnant Women

Lead can accumulate in the human body over time, and be stored in the bones, just like calcium. Studies have shown that when a woman is pregnant, especially women without enough dietary calcium, the lead will be released from the bones and used to form fetus bones, leading to serious effects such as intrauterine growth restriction and premature birth [12]. Besides releasing the fetus the same way as calcium, lead can also be released in breast milk [13].

Adults

Lead is also harmful to adults, and exposure can lead to the following [8, 14];

Hypertension and high blood pressure
Kidney dysfunction
Headaches
Constipation
Muscle and joint pain
Sleeping disorders
Fatigue
Irritability
Loss of libido and reproductive problems

Adults are likely to be exposed to lead when they have hobbies that expose them to lead or work in industries that expose them to lead. For example, if a parent works as a contractor who renovates homes, they may come into contact with lead if they work in older homes that expose them to lead dust.

Is Showering in Lead-Contaminated Water Harmful?

No. Showering in lead-contaminated water cannot affect you or your children because your skin does not absorb lead [11].

However, more stringent rules may be applied to individual circumstances, such as cases where the water may be highly corrosive. Therefore, you should take more stringent actions, such as liaising with your local water authority to have your tap water tested for lead contamination. You can find information regarding the lead levels in your water from the EPA Consumer Confidence Report website, where most public water authorities post metal testing results, including lead testing in water [15].

What to Do If You Suspect Lead in Water

You may suspect that there is lead in your water. Follow these steps to ascertain the state of affairs.

Learn About the Water Coming into the Home

Your community water system prepares an annual water quality report known as Consumer Confidence Report. You can reach out to your water utility to receive a copy of this report.

However, if the water comes from a private water supply or well, you will need to check with nearby utilities or the health department to understand the contaminants in the area. As per EPA’s Public Notification Rule [16], which ensures that consumers know if there is a problem with their drinking water, you will most likely be alerted by the public water system if there is a problem with the drinking water in your area; if the water system fails to test its water; if the system uses less costly technology or if it needs more time to comply with a new regulation.

Have the Water Tested for Lead

Your home may have lead in the plumbing, the solder or even newer faucets. However, you cannot taste, see or smell lead, which makes testing for lead the only viable method of knowing whether there is lead in the water. First, you should learn if you have a lead service line from a licensed plumber or your water utility. Then, you can contact a certified water testing company to conduct a water analysis to ascertain whether there is lead in the water.

How to Reduce Lead in Water

After testing your water for lead, you can take the steps below to reduce lead in your drinking water:

Run Your Water

One of the quickest ways to rid your water of lead is to flush the water pipes before you fetch drinking water. Then, you can use the resulting water to wash dishes, do laundry or shower. Ideally, the time taken to run the water will depend on factors such as the length of the lead service line and whether your home has a lead service line. You can contact your water utility company to know the estimated time you will need to run your water to make it safe for drinking.

Use a Water Filter

If you use a filter, it is crucial to ensure your filter is certified to remove lead. If you buy one, you should read the manufacturer’s instructions and install it properly. Use a cartridge and when the time to replace it comes, do so. Using a cartridge after expiry may mean less effectiveness at lead removal. Additionally, do not run any hot water through the filter.

Learn About Your Neighborhood Construction

As part of doing your due diligence, it is best to be aware of any maintenance or construction work in your area, as these could lead to the disturbance of the lead service line. Therefore, you may find that the lead service line is releasing more leads than usual.

Clean the Aerator

Another good tip for lowering lead levels in water is to clean your aerator/faucet screen. Lead, debris and sediments collect in the aerator, and if the lead particles are in the aerator, the lead can eventually get into the water.

Drink and Use Cold Water

It may be tempting to think that boiling can help remove lead from water. Unfortunately, this cannot be further from the truth. The best thing to do is to use only cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. Boiling water does not remove lead; it increases lead concentration due to the evaporation of some amount of water [17]

What to Do if There is Lead in the Water

If you find out that there is lead in the water in your pipes, you need to take steps to ensure that your family is staying safe. The best step would be to contact the family doctor or pediatrician so they can conduct a blood test for lead and give you information about the potential effects. Check your city, county, and state departments of health to see if they provide information about how to test your child’s blood for contaminants such as lead. Public health actions are recommended if your child’s lead levels in the blood are more than 5 grams per deciliter.

Lead Poisoning Prevention

It would be best if you protect your children from exposure to lead for good health. However, as we have already mentioned, there is no safe lead level in the blood, and even low lead levels in the blood have been shown to affect children in numerous ways [10]. So remember, the most important step to take as a parent, caregiver, and public health professional or healthcare provider is to prevent lead exposure before it occurs. However, even if your children are exposed, you can take steps as a parent to prevent further exposure and reduce the damage to their health.

Primary Prevention

Primary prevention involves removing lead hazards from the environment before children are exposed. This is the most surefire way of ensuring that children are not exposed to the long-term effects of lead poisoning.

Secondary Prevention

Secondary prevention includes going for a blood test if you suspect your child has been exposed to lead and then going for follow-up care and referral if necessary. Blood tests will let you know the level of exposure to lead as many children who have been exposed to lead usually have no obvious symptoms, and the effects could only be realized in the long term. Therefore, preventing childhood exposure could save you financially, especially if you pay attention to avoiding exposure in places where they live, play, and learn.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lead Poisoning?

Lead poisoning or toxicity is the exposure to lead that results in sickness and will require medical attention. If the level of lead in your blood levels is over 45 micrograms per deciliter or more, your doctor or healthcare provider will recommend medication to help remove the lead from your body [10, 14]. Children are more sensitive to lead exposure compared to adults.

Is there a safe level of lead for a child?

No, there is no exposure to lead that is safe for children. Even low levels of lead can be harmful to children because they are still developing mentally and physically. Lead exposure can affect children’s intelligence, attention spans, and academic achievement.

How can you find out exposure to lead in children?

To find out if there has been lead exposure, take them for a blood lead test, as most of them will not show signs of lead toxicity. If you suspect your child has been exposed to lead, you should talk to your doctor or healthcare provider for a blood lead test, and most insurance policies cover blood lead tests.

Are there risk factors for Childhood risk exposure?

Children under the age of 6 are most likely to encounter health problems due to lead exposure, as they are still growing and developing [18]. According to the CDC, children are at risk if:

They live in houses that were built before 1978; the walls are chipping and peeling or the house is in poor condition.
They live in households with low-income levels
Come from racial-ethnic minority groups that are socio-economically marginalized
Are exposed to lead through other household members who are exposed at work, through hobbies or at playgrounds and schools
Live near active lead and industries that release it into the air.

Contact Us Today for Water Testing Services

If you have concerns about your water’s safety and want to get it tested for lead, you need to work with a company that understands your needs and its mandate. At Olympian Water Testing, we have professionals who understand that safe water is essential for optimal health. We conduct regulatory water testing to help you ascertain whether your water is contaminated so you can take the next step. Contact us today with all your water testing and analysis tools.

References

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention: Lead in Drinking Wate. CDC.
EPA: Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
EPA: Lead and Copper Rule. (1991).
NRCD: Lead Pipes Are Widespread and Used in Every State,
NRCD: Millions Served by Water Systems Detecting Lead. (2021).
Edwards, M., Dudi, A.: role of chlorine and chloramine in corrosion of lead-bearing plumbing materials. 96, (2004).
Pelley, J.: Treatment for lead in drinking water is evolving. Will the U.S. EPA catch up?,
World Health Organisation: Lead poisoning. (2022).
Gundacker, C., Forsthuber, M., Szigeti, T., Kakucs, R., Mustieles, V., Fernandez, M.F., Bengtsen, E., Vogel, U., Hougaard, K.S., Saber, A.T.: Lead (Pb) and neurodevelopment: A review on exposure and biomarkers of effect (BDNF, HDL) and susceptibility. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 238, 113855 (2021).
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Gharehzadehshirazi, A., Kadivar, M., Shariat, M., Shirazi, M., Zarkesh, M.R., Ghanavati Najed, M.: Comparative analyses of umbilical cord lead concentration in term and IUGR complicated neonates. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. 34, 867–872 (2021).
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NYC Health: Adults and Lead Poisoning,
EPA: Safe Drinking Water Act: Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR).
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