3 Harms of Drinking Lead
You wake up, turn on the tap, and fill up a glass with cold, clean water or, so you think. However, we should all be asking ourselves “is tap water safe to drink”? Unfortunately, there are many contaminants present in tap water, and most people aren’t aware of it. For example, chlorine is a popular municipal disinfectant that can be found in tap water.
Likewise, many municipal water sources are actually contaminated with lead and other heavy metals. This is primarily a result of old pipes that are used to distribute the water to your home.
Unfortunately, the lead leaching from the pipes can have negative impacts on your health, and on the health of your children. Below, Santevia has outlined three negative impacts lead can have on your body.
- Effects on the brain
- Effects on children
- Renal effects
1. Effects on the brain
Repeated exposure to lead in water can have significant impacts on your health. Although the impacts will be lower than in children, adults can experience neurological consequences, such as behavioural changes and problems with cognition. Changes in behaviour, although subtle, can often include an increased tendency to be aggressive.
People can also develop cognitive issues, and simple tasks such as thinking and remembering, can suddenly become more difficult. Although these symptoms may only occur in high exposures, adults should be aware of the subtle impacts that lead can have on their health.
2. Effects on children
Exposure to lead and heavy metals in water will have much more significant impacts on children than on their older counterparts. Although low exposure to lead and chemicals in water will only have subtle health repercussions, parents should be aware of the consequences that lead can have on their children’s health.
Sometimes, exposure to lead and water treatment chemicals can lead to ADHD, developmental impacts, and hypertension. The most devastating part is that symptoms often don’t become apparent until much later, meaning that children may be late into school before they experience any symptoms of early exposure to lead and other water contaminants.
3. Renal effects
Furthermore, adults and children alike can experience the negative effects of lead through renal problems. Renal disease relates to kidney function, and decreased kidney function impairs the body’s ability to clean toxins - ultimately leading to decreased overall health.
The latent effects of childhood exposure to lead can lead to renal disease in the future. Parents should be aware of the children’s early exposure to lead to prevent adverse health effects later in life.
Filter Lead from Water
To reduce the possibility of exposure to lead in drinking water, invest in a proper water filtration system. Santevia has developed alkaline water filters that reduce chemicals in tap water and that add healthy minerals (such as calcium and magnesium) back into your water.
Whether you’re looking for a large, countertop filter for your whole family, like the Gravity Water System that reduces 99.9% of lead, or a small pitcher for yourself, like the MINA Alkaline Pitcher that reduces 99.0% of lead - we can help reduce your lead exposure.