Lead, which is tough yet flexible and simple to bend and work with, has long been the preferred metal for water pipes, dating back to the ancient Romans. We now know that this material has no place in our houses, let alone our drinking water systems.
Medical and public health specialists believe that there is no such thing as a safe dose of lead in the human body. Furthermore, this powerful, permanent neurotoxic is particularly dangerous to infants and young children.
What Causes Lead in Drinking Water?
When plumbing components containing lead deteriorate, lead can enter drinking water, especially when the water has high acidity or low mineral content, which corrodes pipes and fixtures. In older communities and homes built before 1986, lead pipes are more common.
What Are The Solutions?
Get a comprehensive evaluation from a pediatrician if you fear your child has lead poisoning.
However, if a kid has been poisoned, there are just a few options for treatment. Doctors can use chelation therapy to treat children who have extremely high levels of lead in their blood. Chelation therapy is a chemical that binds to the lead and prevents it from being absorbed by the body.
That can help protect the peripheral organs, but most [treatment] agents don’t do much to repair the damage that’s already been done. Low amounts of lead in the blood have no treatment.
Families can also take prophylactic measures to avoid lead poisoning. If you have small children and live in an old house or an area with old water lines, you should have your water and paint tested by a professional.
Replace Any Clogged Filters
Filter cartridges for faucets can screen up to 100 gallons of water, while pitcher filters may filter up to 40 gallons. In both cases, the filters are often equipped with electronic indicators that alert the user when it is time to replace the filter cartridge, depending on the amount of time or water that has passed through the filter.
Activated carbon filters will eventually reach a point where they can no longer contain lead, so if you use it for a long time, lead may pass through even if you use the best water filter for lead. However, they are powered by non-replaceable batteries that will eventually fail and stop alerting you when the filter needs to be changed.
You’ll either need to buy a new gadget or keep track manually by setting a calendar reminder if this happens.
Use Cold Water More Often
Heat has a big impact on the chemical-physical mechanism that activated carbon uses to absorb pollutants.
High temperatures, for example, can disrupt the connections that cause lead and other compounds to adhere to activated carbon. For example, they can speed up the movement of lead through water, making it more difficult for filters to capture it. Finally, it promotes bacteria growth on the filter, hindering the filter’s capacity to extract lead.
If you turn on the hot water for a few seconds by accident, the filter should be fine if you rapidly switch to cold. However, throw away the hot filtered water and rinse the filter with cold water. Replace the filter immediately if you left the hot water running for an extended period or used extremely hot water.
Examine For Any Damage
A straight passage through or around the filter could be created if there is a crack in the carbon block or a failure in the device itself.
Some filters may have flaws in their construction. You might also break it by dropping it or exposing it to hot water, which will melt the plastic filter housing.
Excess sediment in your water might clog the system and inhibit proper sealing and water flow in some situations. Water filters depend on water pressure to deliver water at a specific velocity into the filter, stir it about inside, and get it out. Just a few particles can choke up the water flow to the point where it’s just a trickle.
After finishing up, lead is a toxic substance that should have no place in anything we ingest, but its ill effects can be diminished or delayed with proper measures and damage control.
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