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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to immediately stop using several bathroom and kitchen faucets sold on Amazon.com due to dangerous levels of lead. The affected products, imported from China, lack identifiable branding and do not meet U.S. safety or certification standards.
Lead exposure from drinking water is a serious public health issue. Even small amounts can pose long-term risks, especially to vulnerable populations.
Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials containing lead corrode. This risk increases with faucets that do not meet safety standards. Since you cannot see, taste, or smell lead in water, it is important to confirm whether your faucets and plumbing are certified as lead-free.
Health Effects of Lead Exposure
The most dangerous form of lead exposure is through drinking water. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the effects of lead. The damage caused by lead exposure can be irreversible.
In children, lead exposure can lead to developmental delays, learning and behavioral problems, speech and language issues, lower IQ, decreased academic achievement, hearing damage, slowed growth, and poor coordination.
Children under age 6 absorb lead more easily than adults, as their developing brains and nervous systems are more susceptible to harm.
In pregnant women, lead can cross the placenta and expose the developing fetus. Lead exposure can increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth, can contribute to developmental delays in the baby after birth, and can lead to a higher likelihood of elevated blood pressure during pregnancy.
Even low levels of lead exposure during pregnancy can negatively affect the baby's brain and nervous system development.
In Your Home
If you are purchasing a new faucet, ensure that all plumbing materials are certified to NSF/ANSI 61 or NSF/ANSI 372, which are both compliant with the Safe Drinking Water Act’s lead-free requirements.
If you suspect lead contamination in your pipes or faucet, contact your local health department or water supplier for information on certified testing labs.
Run your water on its coldest setting before using it to drink and cook, which can reduce the risk of lead exposure. Hot water is more likely to leach lead from pipes.
Flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before use, especially if water has been sitting in the pipes for hours.
A water filter, certified to remove lead, can be a beneficial addition to your home in many forms, including pitchers, faucet filters, countertop water filters, and refrigerator water filters. Filters that meet NSF Standards 53 and 58 can ensure effectiveness. Follow the filter’s manufacturer for guidelines on the product’s lifespan.
If you are facing a case relating to water quality, plumbing components, or potential lead exposure in residential or commercial buildings, CED Technologies has engineers with expertise in mechanical and civil systems who can offer expertise.
Our team regularly investigates failures in plumbing infrastructure, evaluates product compliance, and identifies environmental health risks. We can provide support through inspections, testing, and detailed analysis. Contact CED Technologies to learn more about how we can help your case.
