Lead Poisoning: Contaminated Drinking Water
If you suspect that your drinking water is contaminated with
lead, ask experts from your local or state health
department to test the water in your home.
- Don't cook with, drink, or make baby formula with
water from the hot water tap. Hot water pulls more lead out of pipes than cold
water does.
- Let cold water run for a few
minutes before using it for drinking or
cooking.
- Don't boil the water. As the water boils away, you'll have a smaller amount of water with the same amount of lead in it. So the water has a stronger "dose," or concentration, of lead.
- You can buy and use a water filter certified to remove lead.
- Consider using bottled water.
Other Works Consulted
-
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010). Water. Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/water.htm.
-
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2009). Water on tap: What you need to know. Available online: http://water.epa.gov/drink/guide.
|
By
| Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
| John Pope, MD - Pediatrics |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
| R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology |
|
Last Revised
| June 5, 2012 |
Last Revised:
June 5, 2012
