US EPA: Lead-Contaminated Water Affects Up to 60 percent of American Babies

The US Environmental Protection Agency recently announced that American babies become exposed to lead primarily because of contaminated water. Infants are more vulnerable than adults since it only takes small amounts of lead to harm their system.

The US EPA shared to CNN that low levels of lead can stay and accrue in the body over a period of time. Exposure to lead, even in small amounts, can seriously damage a child's blood cells and nervous system. It can also stunt a child's growth as well as cause learning disabilities and poor hearing.

The agency clarified that contaminated water can't be absorbed through the skin while showering. Babies usually get exposed to low levels of lead by drinking contaminated water, eating foods with lead-tainted ingredients or through brushing their teeth.

Health authorities said parents should get their child's lead level checked as often as possible. Lead testing can be done at a pediatrician's office or a local department of health. Parents can also purchase a lead testing kit from nearby home improvement stores.

The US EPA advises parents to always follow directions. Parents should only use first-draw water as their sample since it has the most quantity of harmful substances.

Lead sneaks into pipelines as plumbing materials corrode over time. Rusted faucets, showerheads and pipe fittings then dispense lead into running water. This same phenomenon caused the notorious Flint water crisis in Michigan.

The problem began in April 2014 when Flint government officials decided to change the city's water source from treated Detroit Water and Sewerage Department water to Flint River water. Officials overlooked the implementation of corrosion control treatment. The negligence led to a public health danger due to lead contamination, as per CBS Detroit.

ABC News reported that the US Department of Health and Human Services recently pledged $3.6 million in emergency funds to aid affected children. Meanwhile, a concerned mother has already filed a law suit against city officials and corporate entities for failing to supply potable water to 30,000 households in Flint.