Water contamination underscores health safety. People consume ounces of water from a public source, and billions rely on tap water.
That is why a safe and clean water supply is vital. When water is contaminated, outrage will surely occur. Lead is a common water contaminant.
Lead is a neurotoxin found in natural deposits of elements. Lead can be found in drinking water when corrosion of faucets, plumbing, and fixtures occurs.
The public's water supply will be in great trouble when this happens. This is when the drinking water gets contaminated with lead.
Pregnant women, infants, and young children are particularly vulnerable to lead because it is a toxic metal that can harm health even at low exposure levels.
Even a dose of lead that would have little effect on an adult can potentially affect children. Lead exposure in children can impact brain development and the nervous system, which is alarming.
People were triggered by the danger in Flint, Michigan, in 2014.
And now, what has happened in Los Angeles and San Francisco about the lead exposure to children and families that caused their lives in grave predicament?
It has been reported that it is worse than what happened in Flint. Find out why.
Lead in L. It makes families sick
There were reported children in 29 California neighborhoods have been exposed to high levels of lead poisoning. When a therapy dog refused to drink at a San Diego grade school, it was the first clue that something was wrong with the water.
About 14 percent of children tested for lead levels higher than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s threshold of five micrograms per deciliter of blood in one Fresno community.
During the early stages of Flint's contaminated water crisis, 5 percent of children tested above the CDC threshold.
High lead levels were also found in downtown Los Angeles and the Bay Area. In Alameda County, eight communities reported levels equal to or greater than Flint’s rates, and four communities in Los Angeles reached or surpassed Flint’s levels.
The news has left California legislators anxious that children exposed to lead may go undiagnosed under the status quo.
Doctors here typically refer children for lead testing only if the family says they live in a home over 40 years old, with peeling paint and low-income assistance programs.
Under a new California Water Boards program, public schools can voluntarily test their water for lead for free, but they are not legally required to do so.
How widespread is the problem? The National Centers for Disease Control found that 5 percent of tested children in Flint had elevated lead levels. In California, the state Department of Public Health has found that 2 percent of tested children have elevated levels.
But there are hot spots of trouble. Eight zip codes in Alameda County showed rates higher than or equal to Flint's. Zipcodes within Los Angeles, Monterey, and Humboldt counties also showed higher rates of childhood lead exposure.
In one Fresno zip code, nearly 14 percent of the children tested had elevated lead levels.
State officials conducted the tests about five years ago, examining children under six at risk for lead exposure. These included children enrolled in Medicaid or who lived in older homes.
By comparison, officials in Michigan tested children living at or below the poverty level and children enrolled in Medicaid.
While the tests cannot determine the source of the lead poisoning, officials said potential causes include lead-based paint, contaminated soil, or drinking water.
San Francisco Schools Detected Toxic Levels of Lead in Water
High levels of lead were found in the water at three San Francisco public schools. According to school district officials, water taps have been turned off after samples contain lead levels above federal safety standards.
The San Francisco Chronicle identified the three schools as West Portal Malcolm X Elementary School and San Francisco International High School. Parents were notified of the discovery through letters, and the water fountains were turned off.
In early October, a California law required lead testing in all state public schools. Of the 72 schools tested, West Portal Elementary, Malcolm X Elementary, and San Francisco International High School had one or more fixtures “with actionable lead levels.”
The pipes where toxic lead levels were detected have all been shut down. The district notified parents of the discovery, and schools would provide bottled water to students.
State Water Resources Control Board officials said 35 of the 1,100 schools that have received testing results posted high levels of lead. These include schools in the Jefferson Elementary School District in San Mateo County, the St. Helena Unified District in Napa County, and the California School for the Blind in Fremont.
In San Francisco, 72 school sites were tested; just three were above the recommended federal lead threshold of 15 parts per billion.
Parents are recommended to conduct a test with their children to ensure safety. The district notified parents of the discovery, and schools will provide bottled water to students.
Toxins’ impact on health
High levels of lead exposure can attack the brain and central nervous system of the person who ingested it. This is especially damaging to children because their central nervous systems are still developing. It can cause developmental problems, such as decreased IQ, learning disabilities, and stunted growth.
Another chemical that contaminated the soil and air around homes in L.A. is benzene. Exposure to benzene causes headaches, dizziness, tremors, and skin and eye irritations. It also increases leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma if people are exposed to this chemical for long periods.
Arsenic, another chemical in the area, is dangerous in its inorganic form. If swallowed, it can damage the body’s digestive system. Some symptoms include stomachaches, vomiting, and diarrhea. If touched by the skin, it can cause irritations and rashes that form dark patches on the surface.
Moreover, it can also cause cancer in the body if ingested long-term.
No Safe Levels
We now know there are no safe levels of lead exposure. Even small amounts of lead can have serious developmental effects, particularly for young children and pregnant women.
Pathogens are not the only health hazards in drinking water. Tap water can also contain lead, which is devastating to children’s developing brains. The culprit is a deteriorating water system infrastructure built in the 19th century, which often had lead-lined drinking water service pipes.
Same Harm, Different Cities
The facts are clear: the water system leaches lead, and contamination is profoundly hazardous to human health. The solutions are also clear, even if they cost a great deal.
But given pervasive social and environmental inequalities, can anyone say with confidence that tragedies like the ones in Flint, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or even other cities that have issues with lead content in water won’t happen over again?
Local prevention programs have provided services to address lead poisoning concerns, including testing recommendations and counseling programs to help families affected by lead exposure.
Communities already suffering from compounding injustice feel the brunt. Lead poisoning will affect the next generation of inner-city children. Be careful and be alert to your whole family’s safety.
← Older Post Newer Post →