What is Lead Poisoning

Lead poisoning occurs when there is a continual source of lead being ingested.  Over time, the lead builds up in the body, causing serious health concerns. For people with developing and compromised immune systems, even small amounts of lead are cause for concern. Children under six years old are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning because their bodies are still developing. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal.

How Does Lead Get into Water?

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) work together to set and enforce allowable limits of lead in our water.  Because public water sources are regularly tested, you may think you don’t need to worry about lead poisoning.  Despite these measures, lead poisoning from water is still a risk.

Even if water tests free of lead at the source, it still must travel through an extensive system of pipes to get to your home.  Along the way, it can pick up lead from older pipes, plumbing systems, and water taps.  Lead can even be found in brass plumbing fixtures and copper pipes that have been soldered with lead.  As water travels and sits in these pipes, lead leaches from the pipes and into the water.

Symptoms of Lead Poisoning

Lead poisoning is very hard to detect, especially at low levels.  Lead is absorbed by the body and accumulates over time.  Symptoms of poisoning may not appear until dangerous levels of lead have built up in the blood and organs.  Sometimes even people with very high levels of lead in their blood may not show any signs of illness.

Children are very susceptible to lead poisoning because of their small size and developing bodies. Some of the symptoms you should be aware of include:

• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Sluggishness and fatigue
• Irritability
• Constipation
• Seizures
• Hearing loss
• Developmental delay
• Learning difficulties

Although children are at higher risk, adults are at risk as well.  Pregnant and nursing mothers should be especially cautious not to drink water contaminated with lead because some of the lead will be passed to the baby.  The elderly and people in poor health should also be concerned about their water quality due to compromised immunity.  Symptoms of lead poisoning in adults include:

• Joint and muscle pain
• High blood pressure
• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Headaches
• Abdominal pain
• Mood disorders
• Reduced sperm count and abnormal sperm
• Miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth in pregnant women

Diagnosis

If you suspect that you or someone in your family is suffering from lead poisoning, you should seek medical attention.  If you live in an older home or are unsure what type of pipes were used in your home, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that your child be tested for lead during the first few years after birth.  Screening is also recommended for older children who have never been tested.

Lead poisoning can be diagnosed through a simple blood test.  Only a small sample of blood is needed, typically from a finger prick.  The levels of lead are then measured in micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL).  While there are no safe levels of lead, a measurement above 5 mcg/dL indicates a potentially unsafe level for both children and adults.

Treatment

If you do test positive for lead poisoning, the first step is to identify the source of lead so exposure can be eliminated.  If caught early enough, blood levels may return to normal without treatment.  For severe cases, treatment is chelation therapy. This involves taking a medication that binds with the lead so that it can be excreted in urine.

Prevention

There are some simple measures you can take to prevent the risk of lead poisoning from your drinking water.  If you have an older home, you should have a plumber examine your pipes to determine if they are made of lead or have lead fittings.  It may be necessary to consider replacing the plumbing if it contains lead. This can be costly, but you should check with your local health department to see if there is any funding available to help offset the cost.

Another simple tip is to avoid using hot tap water for drinking, cooking, or making infant formula. Hot water should not be used for consumption because lead dissolves more easily in hot water.  For drinking and cooking, be sure to run the cold water for at least a minute before using.

Test Your Water

If you want to know for sure if your water is contaminated with lead, the simplest thing to do is test it yourself.  TestAssured’s Lead in Drinking Water Test Kit allows you to test for lead in water from both municipal sources and wells.   The kit includes all the instructions and supplies you need to quickly test your drinking water for the presence of lead in only 10 minutes. If your tap water has lead levels exceeding 15ppb, you should take action immediately to minimize your exposure.

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Water from Natural Aquifers

Well water comes from natural aquifers that store water underground.  There is almost 30 percent more water stored underground than in all streams, lakes, and rivers combined.  This plentiful source of water can be accessed by drilling deep into the ground through the bedrock layer.  The amount of water available depends on the depth of the well and the size and shape of the aquifer.  In order for the aquifer to be replenished, it must continually absorb precipitation that filters through the soil and down into the bedrock.  It is possible for a well to run dry when more water is used than can be absorbed back into the aquifer.  When this happens, it may be possible to drill further down to reach another aquifer or a new well may need to be drilled in another location.

Well Construction

A properly constructed and maintained well can reduce the risk of contaminated water. The location of the well should encourage rainwater to flow away from it. This prevents pools of water from seeping through the soil and picking up pollutants that may ruin the quality of the water.

There are three common types of wells built for drinking water.  Dug wells are 10 to 30 feet deep holes dug in the ground and lined with bricks or other materials for structural support. Because they are so shallow, these wells have the highest contamination risk. Driven wells are mechanically hammered into the ground and pull water from the water-saturated zone. Although slightly deeper than a dug well at depths up to 50 feet, they sill have a moderate risk of contamination. Drilled wells can reach anywhere from 100 to 400 feet and use metal or plastic casings to protect the water. While drilled wells have the lowest risk of contamination, no well can be guaranteed to always provide safe water.

Sources of Contamination

Groundwater can become contaminated from a number of sources, both above ground and below the surface.  Heavy rains, melting snow, and flooding can carry with it harmful organisms and particulate.  A well that is too close to the surface can become contaminated with microorganisms.  Depending on the local area, groundwater may contain copper, nitrates, nitrites, and other contaminants.

Many of the pollutants that are cause for concern can easily go undetected. They are colorless, odorless, and tasteless.  Contaminated well water can cause a variety of health symptoms including gastrointestinal issues, fever, nausea, and long-term illness.  High levels of minerals and alkaline can cause scaling and damage to pipes, fixtures, and water-using appliances.

Older wells are at a greater risk for contamination from surface water because past requirements were not as strict.  Newer wells are built to include better protection from pollutants with such features as sanitary well caps, grout seals, and extended casings.  Despite the improved design, even new wells deteriorate and should be regularly assessed for damage.

Testing Your Well Water

The EPA is responsible for protecting public water supplies, but there are no regulations that govern private wells.  As a well owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that your drinking water is safe.

There are many options for testing well water to assure that it is safe to drink.  Private companies can collect samples, or you can mail samples to a lab for analysis.  This can be costly depending on the number of times a year you need to test, and it may take up to several weeks for results.  Another alternative is to first test with a home testing kit and follow up with laboratory tests for more specific analysis if the initial tests reveal a cause for concern. The TestAssured Well Water Test Kit is perfect for homeowners who rely on groundwater and well water for their drinking and irrigation needs.  The kit includes everything you need to test for chlorine, copper, nitrates, nitrites, iron, alkalinity, pH, hardness, and bacteria.

How Often Should You Test Your Well Water?

If your drinking water comes from a private well, the CDC recommends that you should perform water quality tests at least once a year.  If you have a shallow well that is less than 100 feet deep, it is good practice to test more often. Additional testing is recommended after excessive flooding or disturbances to the soil near your well.  Tests should also be performed any time a neighboring well has tested positive for contamination.  A change in taste, color, and smell are also an indication that the water should be tested.

Be sure to compare your test results to the EPA recommendations and guidelines for water quality limits.  If you are concerned about contamination levels revealed by the tests, further testing may be necessary. Consult your local health department for advice.

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