Water seems to be the last thing that people worry about when it comes to their health, but it shouldn’t be. According to the World Health Organization, contaminated water has been linked to several diseases and conditions, including dysentery, typhoid fever, polio, cholera, giardiasis, high blood pressure, kidney disease, birth defects, and cancer. But lead in water can seriously affect children’s cognitive development if not tested for and remedied early on in life.
What is lead?
Lead is a naturally occurring element found all over Earth’s crust. However, it doesn’t occur alone; it typically occurs alongside other metals like iron, zinc, and copper. In its natural state lead is a soft metal that comes in a wide variety of colors. Because of its malleability and low melting point (535 degrees Celsius), lead has been used for millennia for plumbing systems.
Why test your water?
Lead is a known neurotoxin that can accumulate in your body over time. Symptoms of lead exposure include abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, headaches, dizziness and weakness. The most severe symptoms are related to changes in brain function such as behavioral changes or reduced IQ. Lead contamination can be very dangerous for children under six years old who may experience more serious side effects. You must have your water tested if you have a family member under six years old living in your home as they are particularly vulnerable to these risks. If you’re pregnant then it’s also recommended that you have your water tested for lead; there is no safe level of lead exposure when it comes to motherhood so doing everything possible is vital.
Is my drinking water safe?
Today, Lead testing services New York are widely available for purchase. Because lead is a heavy metal that travels through water supplies very easily (and has been used for many years as an additive), you must find out if your drinking water contains any amounts of lead. A typical home test kit will cost about $15-$20 and usually contain enough chemicals to run at least three tests. One tip when doing these tests: If you’re concerned about getting accurate results because your water supply is frequently disrupted or under construction, run two different tests back-to-back so you can compare them later on; chances are high that if one test comes up positive for lead contamination, so will the other.
How do I get tested?
Before testing for lead in your water, first determine what kind of water you have. If you’re unsure whether or not your water is safe to drink or cook with, call your city or local municipality. They should be able to tell you if there are any concerning levels of lead present in your drinking water. Of course, if I and I were concerned about lead exposure. I would take my proactive steps and invest in a home test kit that could tell me exactly how much lead was present. There are plenty of kits on Amazon ranging from $10 – $20 each; it’s a great way to test your water at home yourself!
Do I need to replace my pipes?
If you have just found out that your water has lead levels above EPA-recommended standards. There are a few things you’ll want to do. One of them is call Lead testing services Provider New York to set up a lead testing. But you may be wondering if you need new pipes before they can test for lead in your water—the answer depends on where your home or business is located. Lead pipes tend to exist mainly in older buildings—structures built before 1986 are more likely than not to have some lead piping somewhere. They must test for any/all possible lead sources so that it doesn’t affect drinking water quality later on down the line.
Am I immune from harm if my water does contain lead?
What about my family? Should I be concerned? If so, what should I do? These are questions we’re frequently asked when discussing lead and water. If you have any questions related to these issues or concerns regarding whether your water may contain lead – contact Lead testing services New York
Is there a remedy for lead poisoning?
The short answer is no. If you’ve been drinking or cooking with water that contains high lead levels over a long period (several months or years). Your nervous system may be permanently damaged. Unfortunately, there is no way to completely remove all traces of lead from your body. So there’s no complete remedy for lead poisoning. In addition, young children are especially vulnerable. Even low levels of exposure can result in learning disabilities, seizures, anemia and behavioral problems for children. Older people are also more at risk for high blood pressure resulting from prolonged exposure to even small amounts of lead in water.
What should I do next?
Most states have laws that require residential buildings to be connected to a public water supply. Therefore, private well owners should test their drinking water for contaminants regularly. Any home built before 1986 is likely served by a private well and should be tested at least once a year. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends an initial lead test within 6 months of moving into a new home or after renovations are completed. If initial testing shows that your water has high lead levels (over 15 ppb). You should repeat testing every 3 months until levels drop below EPA’s Action Level of 15 ppb.
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