There are still millions of people who have lead pipes bringing water into their homes. The Federal Government says Illinois has more lead service lines than any other state. The Medical Director for St. Johns Hospital, Doug Carlson, says where you live shouldn’t impact how long you live and if you live in an older house or neighborhood you should test your water for lead. Carlson notes the impacts on the health of children is particularly troubling.
“Lead poisoning has become much more of a silent epidemic because fortunately we don’t see those very high levels of 30, 40, 50, 60 micrograms per deciliter, but we still see significant numbers of children that have above acceptable levels. Really no level of lead is acceptable. There is no purpose for lead in the human body and any level is toxic.”
US Senator Dick Durbin says there is an authorization bill that has been passed in the Senate to provide $100 million in funding to replace lead service lines across the nation.
***Report Courtesy of farmweeknow.com***
