Lead, a potent neurotoxin, has the potential to damage nervous connections and even cause blood and brain disorders. Children are especially vulnerable to lead contamination as drinking water, contaminated with lead may even damage the brain and kidneys in children. However, adults are not beyond its reach as it may lead to miscarriage in women as well. Lead poisoning is usually prevalent due to its low reactivity and solubility, which actually helps lead to be dispersed. Long-term exposure to lead poisoning may also result in the increase of blood pressure and anemia. This is not all as lead contaminants can cause several other serious health hazards, which may ultimately lead to death.

Effects of lead contamination

Lead contamination is a serious threat to humankind as it has the potential to cause serious damages to nervous system, brain and red blood cells. In fact, the damage to brain may be to the extent of damaging the memory. Moreover, children, infants and unborn babies are most susceptible to the ill effects of lead contamination as it is capable of affecting most of the organs of a human body. The fact that lead enters the bloodstream actually helps it to access any part of the body. High levels of lead intake may end up causing a decrease in a person’s cognitive powers and physically, it may cause weakened fingers, wrist and ankles. Other symptoms of lead contamination include constipation, irritability, sleeplessness, abnormal cramps and decreased appetite. It also causes damage to the male reproductive system.

Sources of lead contamination

Lead is present in a number of places, and this makes it more likely for people to be exposed to it. Among all such sources, the water you drink or use for various purposes is the major source of lead contamination. Most of the water supply reaches through old, corroded pipes that add certain extent of lead to the water. Apart from those corroded pipes, the service connection solder and brass fixtures on the water delivery system also contributes to the lead content in the water due to the reaction between water and these parts. Looking at the variety of sources that contributes to lead content in the environment, water alone is responsible for 10% to 20% of the total lead exposure in case of children.

Measures to purify water from lead

There are varieties of ways to curb the possibility of being exposed to lead. There are some medications available to lower the level of lead in your blood. However, the most effective and permanent remedy would be to identify the source from where you are being exposed and then purifying it. As water plays a major role in getting lead into a human body, here are some measures to get the water rid of lead. Some of the ways are as follows:

The first and foremost measure would be to identify the root of lead contamination. However, you may not be well equipped to identify the sources yourself – take the help of a licensed well contractor who shall help you identify the source.

It may not always be possible to remove lead source due to financial constraints. In such circumstances, flush out the water system before using the water. Moreover, you will not be wasting the flushed out water if you can use it for other purposes like watering plants, washing clothes etc.

Boiling the water shall actually prove counter productive, as it increases the lead concentration in the water. Some part of the water often evaporates during boiling. However, the lead content remains same thus increasing the lead concentration in water.

You may also avail the benefits of various processes like osmosis, distillation, carbon filters as these processes shall help you to remove lead content from water. These are one of the most effective and fool proof methods of purifying the drinking water.

Learn more about lead and contaminants in your drinking water or compare filtration systems

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