Protecting Against Lead in Water

In small quantities, lead is found in the Earth’s crust. Although it can be useful in certain applications, lead is dangerous to your health. There is no safe level of exposure for humans to lead. Lead-based paints, soil, dust, dirt, dust in homes, food, pottery and drinking water can all be exposed. High levels of this metal in the blood can lead to health problems, particularly for children younger than 5.

The Effects of Lead

The Safe Drinking Water Act requires the EPA to determine the safe level of contaminants in drinking waters. Low levels of lead are allowed, but even low levels can cause severe health problems and lead can build up in the body. Lead can cause severe kidney damage and brain disorders. Individuals are not all affected by the effects of lead. There are many factors that can affect the risk of exposure to lead. These include the chemical properties of water and the amount of lead consumed. There are specific issues that can be found in individuals:

• Pregnant Women: Lead can build up in the body and can be found in bones, along with calcium. When maternal calcium is transferred to the fetus, lead is released from the mother’s bones. This helps to develop the baby’s bones. It is possible for lead to cross the placental barrier and expose the baby, potentially causing premature births or reduced growth.
• Infants and children – Children who drink water with lead content are at greater risk than those who don’t. This is because their small bodies have a smaller volume of water than their larger ones. Children are more likely to be exposed to lead poisoning because they consume more water and have developing bodies. Convulsions, severe neurological damage, organ failure, death, or coma can all be caused by high levels of lead exposure. A lower level of lead exposure can result in hearing loss, decreased growth, and learning and behavior difficulties.
• Adults – Lead can cause health problems in adults, such as increased blood pressure and hypertension. Older people can also develop kidney damage or complications with their reproductive organs.

What Is The Lead Content In Tap Water?

Lead can be found all over the environment, including in soil, water, and air. You can find lead in our homes, but only in certain areas. The majority of lead contaminates are caused by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, gasoline, factories, and lead-based paints. Lead can travel long distances to reach soil and water sources after being released into the atmosphere. Lead can combine with drinking water to cause corrosion, which can lead to the destruction of homes’ piping. Lead was used to solder pipes in older homes before 1930. We saw a decline in lead pipes in homes until the 1980s.

LEAD REMOVAL

We recommend that you have your water tested by a certified laboratory if you suspect lead in your water. You can also purchase a DIY kit to test your water for the presence of lead. It is possible to remove lead from your drinking water. After identifying the source of contamination, the easiest way to resolve this problem is to use the right water filter. These are the three main water filtration methods that can remove lead:

• Reverse Osmosis is the most affordable and popular option. It can remove 95% lead from water.
• Activated carbon filter – This option allows activated carbon to absorb minerals like lead and magnesium from water. It reduces the lead supply by a lot. The downside is that filter cartridges can quickly become full and may need to be replaced frequently. After a certain amount water has been passed through, the lead-removing abilities also diminish.
• Distillation – This process produces the purest water but comes at a high price and requires a lot more electricity and processing time.

This post was written by a water treatment expert at Pure Blue H2O. At Pure Blue H2O we are the providers of the best Reverse Osmosis Filter System! We know that the best product comes from the best materials. They offer whole home water solutions such as showerhead filtration, filter replacements, and a variety of similar products. Their focus is to provide Americans with safe and clean water throughout the home.