What is Lead, and why does it matter?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lead is a naturally occurring element that is found in small amounts throughout the earth’s crust, and while it has some beneficial industrial uses, it can be highly toxic to humans and animals.
Although chronic lead exposure is dangerous to all humans regardless of age, it is particularly detrimental to children because it impairs their neurological development. Childrens’ brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead, and children are more likely to be in contact with lead-based or contaminated surfaces (paint, soil, and dirt). This lead can then enter their bodies more easily because children inevitably put their hands in their mouths. However, you what you may not realize is that your household may be exposed to lead through your water as well!
How does Lead get into water supplies?
Studies have shown that most lead contamination occurs after water has left municipality treatment plants. This is because the majority of lead contamination comes from corrosion of pre-1986 home piping, old service connections, brass fixtures, and lead solder used in copper piping.
What are the potential health effects from Lead exposure?
Chronic lead exposure and poisoning symptoms may be difficult to isolate and recognize. However, the following can be signs of lead poisoning: irritability, weight loss, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, pica, and impaired or reduced cognitive development.
Does Lead contamination still happen in 2019?
With the lead safety standards that were introduced in 1986, you might think that incidents of lead poisoning are a thing of the past, but unfortunately, that is not the case! In recent news, residents of Newark, New Jersey have been urged to only drink bottled water because of infrastructure deterioration that is causing widespread lead contamination. But Newark is not the only U.S. city still suffering from the ill effects of lead contaminated water, Flint, Michigan is still trying to recover from their lead contamination issues that occurred more than five years ago. Furthermore, the following states have recently made national headlines because of their failure to protect children from lead in their schools’ drinking water: North Carolina, Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Given these large and widespread lead contamination incidents, it is clear that point-of-use (in-home) water filtration systems are becoming necessary to protect your health.
What kinds of water filters reduce Lead? What should you look for?
There are a variety of water filtration systems on the market that can remove lead. However, not all filters can effectively reduce lead to meet required safety guidelines. When looking for a water filtration system, insist on getting a system that is tested and certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for lead reduction.
A Crusader Water Reverse Osmosis Filtration System can provide you with better water and peace of mind! They are NSF/ANSI Standard 53 and 58 certified to reduce lead by up to 98.6%, and can reduce a variety of other harmful contaminants in your water as well.
We also carry whole house Crusader UNO filter systems that are certified to reduce lead as well as providing protection from chlorine tastes and odors and other contaminants for every faucet in your home.
