Researchers cite widespread lead contamination in water at Philadelphia schools

Source: WHYY

Researchers cite widespread lead contamination in water at Philadelphia schools

By Sophia Schmidt February 16, 2022

A group of researchers and advocates are calling on the School District of Philadelphia to do more to address lead in water in its schools, after releasing an analysis of the district’s own testing data that suggests widespread contamination. The district calls the analysis a “mischaracterization.”

The analysis by PennEnvironment and PennPIRG crunched publicly available data collected by the school district over the last few years, and found nearly all schools tested had at least one outlet — like a water fountain or sink — that tested positive for lead. PennPIRG’s study uses a threshold of just one part per billion (ppb) to indicate the presence of lead, while the district uses an acceptable limit of 10 ppb — already below the state’s action level. The organizations counted 307 of the 1,932 samples taken above the district’s standard. The district says outlets that exceed its standard are immediately shut down.

“It looks like a pretty widespread problem,” said Emma Horst-Martz, an advocate with the PennPIRG Education Fund who worked on the project.

Lead is especially dangerous for children and has been linked to nervous system damage and learning disabilities. Science backed by the EPA shows there is no safe level of exposure.

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Read more: https://whyy.org/articles/researchers-cite-widespread-lead-contamination-in-water-at-philadelphia-schools/