Thousands of British schoolchildren are being exposed to dangerous levels of lead in school drinking water despite the toxic metal being banned from plumbing over 50 years ago
- Thousands of schools kids are being exposed to dangerous levels of lead
Thousands of British schoolchildren are being exposed to dangerous levels of lead in school drinking water, experts have warned.
Tests have shown that the concentration of the toxic metal found in tap water at dozens of schools is above the UK standard, despite it being banned from plumbing more than half a century ago.
In 59 tests at 30 schools over the past ten years, lead was found to be at or above the safe UK limit of 10 micrograms of lead per litre, according to data from the Environmental Information Regulations.
The new EU limit is five micrograms per litre.
Lead was found in the tap water throughout the schools, including the kitchens, nursery sinks, classrooms, toilets and medical rooms.
Thousands of British schoolchildren are being exposed to dangerous levels of lead in school drinking water, experts have warned. Pictured: Stock image of primary school
Tim Pye, from the Lead Exposure and Poisoning Prevention Alliance told the i newspaper: ‘Drinking water safety in schools needs to be urgently improved.
‘Children are more vulnerable to lead toxicity which can lead to lifelong health problems.’
According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated one million people die of lead poisoning every year.
Millions more, many of them children, are exposed to low levels of the metal which can cause problems including anaemia, hypertension, toxicity to reproductive organs.
Education Minister Nick Gibb said last week that action needs to be taken where any lead pipes are found.
According to the Drinking Water Inspectorate, water companies take regular random samplings at schools and are working to remove lead piping.
A spokesperson for Water UK, which represents 25 of the UK’s biggest water companies, said: ‘Customers in the UK enjoy some of the best drinking water in the world, with more than 99 per cent passing stringent water quality tests.
‘Where lead is suspected water companies will work closely with building owners to assess the risk and, if necessary, support them to replace any lead piping.’
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