Public Works & Utilities

Health Effects

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.

Children - Young children, infants, and fetuses are particularly vulnerable to lead because the physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at lower exposure levels in children than in adults. A dose of lead that would have little effect on an adult can have a significant effect on a child.

Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in:

• Behavior and learning problems
• Lower IQ and hyperactivity
• Slowed growth
• Hearing problems
• Anemia

Pregnant Women -Lead can accumulate in our bodies over time, where it is stored in bones along with calcium. During pregnancy, lead is released from bones as maternal calcium and is used to help form the bones of the fetus. This is particularly true if a woman does not have enough dietary calcium. Lead can also cross the placental barrier exposing the fetus to lead. This can result in serious effects to the mother and her developing fetus, including:

• Reduced growth of the fetus
• Premature birth
• Lead can also be transmitted through breast milk

Adults - Adults exposed to lead can suffer from:

• Cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure and incidence of hypertension
• Decreased kidney function
• Reproductive problems (in both men and women)

Minimize Your Risk

• Use a certified filter to remove lead from your drinking, cooking water and for food and beverage preparation including baby formula.
• Use cold water for drinking, cooking and baby formula.
• Clean your faucet aerators regularly.
• Boiling water does NOT remove lead.

Healthy Water Habits Fact Sheet

Additional Links

MN Dept of Health: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/contaminants/lead.html

EPA:  https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water

NSF - National Sanitation Foundation: https://www.nsf.org/consumer-resources/articles/lead-drinking-water