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Here's our family's story and the path we took to help Mark recover from lead poisoning and some learning issues. Read Mark's Story
print this pageThe summer season may as well be called the “water” season as my children are always running around with water balloons, water guns, swimming, running through sprinklers and squirting each other with the hose. It’s all part of the innocent fun that most children experience.
But did you know that many hoses are made of polyvinyl chloride , which uses lead as a stabilizer? In 2003, Consumer Reports tested 16 hoses. Some were marked “safe for drinking” while others were marked with a warning label and yet a third set had no labels at all. The results of their test indicated that all of the hoses labeled safe for drinking were actually labeled correctly and were safe for drinking, while some of the hoses from the other categories leached 10 to 100 times allowable lead levels in the first draw of standing water.
In 2007, ABC news in Phoenix, Arizona purchased and tested 10 hoses and discovered that five of them exceeded the EPA standards for drinking water which is 15 parts per billion (ppb). Four of the five hoses leached excessive amounts of lead into the water, with one of the four testing at 290 ppb, which is almost 20 times higher than what the EPA allows for drinking water.
What can you do to reduce your exposure to lead hoses?
- Check your hose to see if it is labeled safe for drinking or do not drink. Sometimes the labels can be small and hard to spot, if you’re in doubt, don’t use it and look for a new hose that is labeled properly.
- Buy a “safe for drinking” hose and use this hose for filling kiddie-pools, sprinklers, slip and slides and pet food bowls. Some brands that tested well for Consumer reports were the Apex NeverKink Boat and Camper 2000 1/2-Inch-by-50-Foot Hose, the Colorite/Swan SNCMC12025 Marine, Camper, Patio, And Pool Hose or the Better Homes and Gardens Kink-free hose. Generally speaking; camper, marine or RV hoses are usually made from medical-grade vinyl and are generally safe for drinking. They work well in the garden and for watering the lawn.
- Flush the water out of the hose prior to use so that it won’t wind up on your family members ; although it’s still troublesome to consider that their could be lead on your lawn or in your vegetable garden. This will minimize the exposure to lead.
- Try to limit the use of brass hose fittings as they may also contribute to lead poisoning . Nickel -plated fittings are safer.
- Pass this information onto your child’s preschool as many have water-themed activities in the summer months.
Footnotes
- http://www.watoxics.org/homes-and-gardens/fastfacts/fastfacts-pvc
- http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=triangle&id=5474870
- http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/Story?id=3369894&page=2
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