Garden Hose Caution - for Lead poisoning Danger - Article

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Just a friendly reminder for spring and summer:

Garden Hose Caution - Article

*** Please forward to friends and family and other list groups to spread the reminder, it can be So easy to forget these dangers when it is a nice day.***

Unless you have a garden hose with a tag that states that it is "lead free", you must assume that it contains lead.

Article from: ABC30.com: Consumer Watch - Garden Hose Caution

Exposure to lead is harmful, especially for young children, because it can damage the developing brain. Consumer Reports found high levels of lead in something you probably wouldn't suspect.

On a hot summer day, little ones love to take a drink from the hose, but there can be dangerously high levels of lead in water that sits in a hose for a while. Consumer Reports says the problem is that many hoses are made of polyvinyl chloride, which uses lead as a stabilizer. That lead can leach into the water. Some hoses carry warnings, "This hose is not for drinking water use." And, some say, "Do not drink from this hose."But, there are some hoses that are labeled, "Drinking water safe."In all, Consumer Reports checked 16 different hoses to see how much lead could leach into the water. Testers cut off two-foot sections, then the hose sections were filled with water and plugged. They went into an oven overnight to simulate a day out in the hot sun, and afterwards, chemists analyzed the water.Consumer Reports' Jim Nanni says some had very high levels of lead, "In some of the hoses, we measured 10 to 100 times more lead than the government considers safe coming a faucet."However, the hoses that were labeled safe to drink lived up to their claim, leaching only minuscule amounts of lead.To be safe, Consumer Reports says before you drink from a hose, let it run for a minute or so. That will flush out any water that could have been contaminated by lead.Hoses that are labeled safe are available at home centers and boating supply stores.

Story from this site: See full website for other information: ABC30.com: Consumer Watch - Garden Hose Caution

More information about garden hose danger:

WRAL.com - News - Water From Garden Hoses Tested For Lead Levels If water sits in a hose too long, lead levels can be dangerously high.

Other lead factors awareness.

Lead Free Requirements of Safe Drinking Water Act