Effects Of Lead In Drinking Water...

According to the U.S. department of Health And Human Services, lead in drinking water is the major environmental health threat to children. Lead is a well known contaminant found in tap water. The lead in drinking water comes from water mains in the street and the household faucet, thus making it impossible to treat lead from a central point.

Lead in drinking water originates from lead lined pipes, lead solder and brass plumbing fixtures inside your home. The EPA estimates that 95% of all homes have pipes, fixtures or solder joints in the household plumbing that increase the amounts of lead in the tap water. Interesting article: Consequences of drinking contaminated water

It has been noted by the EPA that there is no safe level for lead in drinking water and that any level poses some serious implications on health.

Lead is very harmful to young children.

Drinking water with lead lowers the children's IQs. Lead consumption results in learning disabilities and behavioral problems such as hypertension and reduced attention span in small children. The effects of lead are long term and sadly non-reversible. Related article : Arsenic in drinking water

In adults lead in drinking water results in increased blood pressure. The lead lowers hemoglobin production which is necessary for oxygen transportation in the body and interferes with normal cellular calcium metabolism. Water borne lead affects everyone and in a permanent way.

Exposure to lead is cumulative and long term. Lead in drinking water is kept by the body in the teeth and bones. During stressful periods the stored lead is released in different amounts depending on the individuals physical state.

Lead has a very serious effect on the body's electrical system...the nervous system.

Lead results in distorted messages transmission, sent from the brain to every cell and organ in our body. This causes other serious health problems

The U.S. EPA estimates that lead in drinking water contributes to 560,000 cases of learning disorders in children and 680,000 cases of hypertension in adults, each year in the U.S. alone. Further studies reveal a relationship in exposure to lead and adolescent crime. Areas in large cities that have shown to have higher levels of lead in the drinking water, have also been found to have a higher rate of pre-adult crime.

Other effects of lead in drinking water include depression, anxiety, learning disabilities and hypertension and overall anti-social behavior. In some instanances lead in drinking water has lead to violent activities in children and teenagers.

In 1993 the EPA released a first-time report that showed the results of the new test at the tap requirements for lead in drinking water. The report reported that, in America, 42 states exceeded the legal limits of lead in drinking water and that other states failed to do the required testing. Other areas had lead levels in excess of 450 parts per billion, thirty times the legal limit of 15 ppb.

The level the EPA has set as the safe level, or MCLG (maximum contaminant level goal), is -0- ppb.

You can read a wide range of water usage articles. They discuss the use of water in the house and home ... topics covered include filters, heaters, softeners and water in the garden