The Oakland Unified School District is fighting high levels of lead within the water at a few of its schools. The heavy metal is toxic and dangerous to human health.
Here's what it’s essential learn about lead.
Q: What is the protected amount of lead in drinking water?
A: According to Asa Bradman, a professor of public health on the University of California Merced, there isn’t a protected level of lead in drinking water. Federal and state laws limit the allowable amount of lead in drinking water to fifteen parts per billion, but some school districts have adopted policies to further restrict that limit, including Oakland Unified with a limit of 5 ppb and Berkeley Unified with a limit of 1 ppb.
Q: What are the risks of lead in drinking water?
A: Although the results of lead on the body are influenced by many aspects, akin to duration and extent of exposure, lead levels in drinking water might be particularly dangerous, Bradman says.
Q: How does lead get into drinking water?
A: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pipes, faucets and other fixtures are probably the most common sources of lead in drinking water.
Q: What are the health effects of lead intake?
A: The U.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that even low levels of lead within the blood have been shown to have negative effects on children's health. Lead exposure could cause brain damage and developmental delays, leading to lower IQ, reduced attention span and poorer performance at school, the organization says. The risk varies depending on the person, water quality and amount consumed. Lead is just not absorbed through the skin, the CDC says.
Q: How long does lead stay within the body?
A: According to the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, lead is eliminated from the body very slowly and each past and current elevated exposure can increase the danger of health damage.
Q: How do I do know if I even have been exposed?
A: According to the CDC, you may't see, test, or smell lead in drinking water. The best solution to discover for those who've been exposed to steer in drinking water is to have your water tested.
Q: How will I be tested?
A: A physician can resolve whether a blood lead test is mandatory and determine any mandatory follow-up measures, the CDC said.
Originally published:
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