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| Common Lead Sources |
| Urban soil and dust (deposits from paint, gasoline and industrial sources). Soil can become contaminated when exterior lead-based paint flakes, chalks or peels and gets into the soil. Homes near certain industries such as smelters or lead-acid (automotive) battery manufacturers may have lead in the soil due to close proximity to those operations. Use of leaded gasoline in America has left behind deposits of lead in much of the nation's soil. Children often play in this soil, which is easily tracked into the home. |
| Drinking water (leached from lead pipes, solder, service lines and brass fixtures). Lead contaminates drinking water primarily through corrosion of plumbing materials. As surprising as it sounds, some brand new faucets, new solder and new brass fittings can leach more lead than old ones. Although lead solder was outlawed for use in drinking water systems in 1986, it is still widely available for other uses and can be found in any hardware store. Studies of newer homes indicate that lead solder is being used, even though it has been outlawed. |
| Over time, minerals build up inside the piping system and act as an insulator between the water and lead containing components. Therefore, lead levels in water from older homes may be lower than lead levels in water from newer homes. Additionally, some treatments, such as "shocking" (super chlorination) will clean out the piping system. This cleaning removes the mineral deposits, causing the water to be exposed to leaded components once again. |
| Vinyl miniblinds (lead is used as a plastic strengthener). For many years, an estimated 25 million vinyl miniblinds containing lead were imported into the United States each year. The plastic in the blinds deteriorates from exposure to sunlight and heat to form lead dust.
Therefore, even homes without lead-based paint can be sources of lead exposure. Lead is dangerous because it is so easily overlooked, and many people are unaware that these hazards exist. |
| Also see: Water Quality |
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