Everyone lives with some unseen hazards in our homes and one of these is the metal, lead. This can be found in paint, windows, and plumbing fixtures if you own an older home. This natural substance that is found in the environment can be hazardous to the health to your entire family, especially young and unborn children, due to their smaller body sizes.
Lead exposure could come through the breathing in of the fumes or swallowing of paint chips, or somehow it being absorbed through the skin, perhaps through the child playing in dirt beside the house where paint chips have fallen. It is more dangerous than other metals because when it is absorbed, it harms red blood cells, absorption into the bones, and reduced brain function.
There are several ways to reduce the amount of lead in your home. One of these is to have lead free brass pipes and fixtures installed in your home. It is important that you know what is coming out of your faucets, and protecting your family cannot just be done by purchasing and using bottled water or faucet filters. It is being recommended by lawmakers to make new laws about requiring contractors to use this piping in the new homes and businesses being built today.
The metal pipes that are being used in most homes may be transporting poisoned water without your knowing about it. By using lead free brass you greatly reduce the amount of the hazardous metal that is getting into the bodies of your loved ones. AS a parent, we try to help our children stay healthy by getting rid of the lead paint and the lead coated toys, why not our pipes and fixtures as well? Your utility company can help you figure out the cost and help you find a certified plumber who can help you make the necessary changes to your plumbing system.
Lead gets into your drinking water by leeching through the pipes, which does not usually result in a trip to the emergency room, but can lead to long term effects in the body. If you make the switch to lead free brass pipes and fixtures you are reducing the amount of leeching into your water that can occur.
If you or your child are experiencing severe head or stomach pain, anemia, changes in behavior, or seizures, you should see your doctor and get tested for lead poisoning. Being tested early can prevent debilitating health problems later. Your health department will know if there are any programs through your city that help rehabilitate old homes to remove the lead or can help you find a plumber that works with lead.
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