Nearly 70% of young children are exposed to lead from their home tap water, with higher exposure rates in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods. Lead testing is less likely to be conducted in these areas. The city of Chicago has the highest number of lead service lines in the U.S., contributing to high lead exposure. Despite free lead testing kits being offered, less than 10% of households have tested their water.
And nearly 70% of young children are getting exposed to lead from their home tap water , according to recent estimates. The study also finds that Black and Hispanic neighborhoods are more likely to have lead exposure , but less likely to be tested for lead.
"The concerning thing here is that is happening at such a population level, and we don't know which houses have small levels of exposure and which ones have large levels," says study co-author, assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, though he notes that even low levels of lead can cause health problems. This toxic metal has been banned from water pipes since 1986, but many homes were built before that. Lead exposure is especially high in Chicago, which has the highest number of lead service lines out of any U.S. city, largely because the city code required the use of lead service lines until the year they were banned. The city of Chicago offers free lead testing kits to residents, but fewer than 10% of households have tested their water
Lead Exposure Tap Water Children Health Problems Black Neighborhoods Hispanic Neighborhoods Chicago Lead Service Lines Lead Testing
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