Lead in Glencairn Elementary Faucet Causes Concern

Photo of Glencairn Elementary School, courtesy East Lansing Public Schools

The Flint Water Crisis has led to elevated awareness in Michigan—and around the nation—about lead exposure and lead poisoning. Today, a letter sent home by East Lansing Public School’s superintendent Robyne Thompson is contributing to local concern. Here we report on the letter (view it here) and also cover some of what you might want to know about lead.

According to Thompson’s letter, on January 7, the “district administration was notified about a sign/sticker…over a sink at Glencairn Elementary that states ‘flush this faucet for five minutes each day before drinking to reduce lead levels to acceptable health limits.’” Thompson says, “After talking with maintenance personnel it is believed the origin of the sign dates back to the late 80s or early 90s.”

The superintendent’s letter says the water was turned off to the sink until it could be tested. “Seven other faucets/fountains were also tested” at the school.

The results came back today showing that (only) the sink with the sign had a level considered unsafe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The first sample taken from this sink had a level of 0.037 parts per billion, which is above the 0.015 parts per billion “Action Level” set by the E.PA. Further testing of this sink showed levels below the Action Level.

Thompson wrote that “the District is keeping water turned off to this sink and is having the pipe replaced to the wall and the faucet hardware replaced. After the work is completed the water will be re-tested at this sink for acceptable levels.” Additionally, “the District is evaluating all sites for water testing.”

Lead in water typically comes from older pipes and plumbing joints that used lead in their construction. Particularly when water has been sitting in pipes that have lead, lead may leach out into the water. Flushing the water (running it for a while without using it) can decrease the amount of lead that you will drink, bathe in, or cook with.

There are other sources of lead in our environment, including lead-based paints. Many older buildings in East Lansing, including many older homes, have lead paint in them. Experts recommend trying not to disturb lead paint; it only becomes a problem when it flakes off or is ground into dust, in which case it may be ingested. Because lead paint tastes sweet, children may be inclined to eat the flakes. They can also accidentally ingest it.

Lead is a particular problem for developing children because it can negatively affect their brain development and other organ development as well. The damage can be permanent. Pregnant women should avoid having lead in their systems to avoid harm to their fetuses.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says that “Today at least 4 million households have children living in them that are being exposed to high levels of lead. . . . No safe blood level in children has been identified. Lead exposure can affect nearly every system in the body.” (Read more.)

It is easy to get your or your child’s blood tested for lead; it involves a simple blood test. I have had the test done for myself and my son for many years (once every two years or so, and once every year when he was a young child) because our Oakwood house in East Lansing, built in 1923, has lead paint. In addition to construction causing disruption of the paint, opening and closing our old windows causes paint to flake and come off as dust. We have been careful to keep our son away from construction projects and to vacuum up (or otherwise clean up) all paint chips and construction dust, along with dust in window sills.

While our son's blood has tested negative consistently, the blood of some other children in our neighborhood has tested positive following construction projects that significantly disturbed lead paint. A contractor was using a fine-grit grinder on lead paint, something you should never do. (See this page for information on lead paint abatement.) The lead in these neighborhood children’s systems also could have come from old plumbing.

Children whose blood lead levels test high need to be treated. Watch this video to see Aron Sousa, MD, the interim dean of MSU’s Medical School, talking about what needs to be done for the children in Flint. (Disclosure: Aron is my husband and also an ELi nature/environment reporter.)

My own blood tests have consistently shown a low level of lead considered “safe” by experts. It is just as possible the lead in my blood is from growing up with leaded gasoline as from dealing with construction in our house. Many people my age who were around leaded gasoline show some lead in their systems.

The fact that only one faucet at the Glencairn school showed a lead level considered too high tells us that the issue is that faucet, not the water coming into the school. The fact that the water tested lower after water was run through the faucet for a while also tells us the issue is the plumbing, not the water supply. That is why the District is planning to replace the plumbing going to that faucet.

ELi will continue to follow this story.

NOTE: The penultimate paragraph was added post-publication in response to a reader's question.