Health Effects of Lead

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.

What can I do to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water?

In addition to your service line, plumbing or faucets in your home may contain lead and could increase lead levels in your drinking water. See below for a list of steps you can take to minimize lead in your water:

  1. Run your water to flush out lead. If water hasn’t been used in several hours, run water for thirty seconds to two minutes or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature before using it for drinking or cooking. This helps flush lead-containing water from the pipes.
  2. Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap. Lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Do not use water from the hot water tap to make baby formula.
  3. Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.
  4. Look for alternative sources or treatment of water. You may want to consider purchasing a water filter or bottled water. Read the package to be sure the filter is approved to reduce lead or contact NSF International at 800-NSF-MARK or www.nsf.org for information on performance standards for water filters. To help maximize water quality, be sure to maintain and replace a filter device in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  5. Test your water for lead. If you think you may have elevated lead levels in your home drinking water, have it tested. For a list of laboratories approved for drinking water analysis, go to NELAP Certified Laboratory Search. Depending on how many contaminants you wish to test for, a water test can cost from $15 to hundreds of dollars. Call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 for more information.
  6. Get your child’s blood tested. If you are concerned about exposure to lead, contact your local health department or health care provider to find out how you can get your child tested.
  7. Identify and replace plumbing fixtures containing lead. Brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as “lead-free”, may contribute to lead in your drinking water. The law currently establishes the definition for “lead-free” as the weighted average of 0.25% lead calculated across the wetted surfaces of a pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, and fixture and 0.2% lead for solder and flux. Visit the NSF International website at www.nsf.org to learn more about lead-containing plumbing fixtures.
  8. Learn about construction in your neighborhood. Be aware of any construction or maintenance work that could disturb your lead service line. Construction may cause more lead to be released from a lead service line.
  9. Clean your aerator. Regularly clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water.
  10. Use your filter properly. If you use a filter, make sure you use a filter certified to remove lead. Read the directions to learn how to properly install and use your cartridge and when to replace it. EPA has developed a consumer tool to identify point-of-use drinking water filters certified to reduce lead at: EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency.