18 cities in Pennsylvania reported higher levels of lead exposure than Flint

[PADemD]

There are 17 cities in Pennsylvania where 10 percent of children tested positive for lead exposure

Philadelphia was not able to share community-area lead level exposure rates, but a 2014 Pennsylvania Department of Health annual report that included detailed information on 20 cities showed that 17 of those had a higher percentage of children with blood lead levels (BLLs) ? 5 ?g/dL than the rest of the state

20 cities in Pennsylvania where the lead exposure rate is higher than 9.37 percent

Chart at link

http://www.vox.com/2016/2/3/10904120/lead-exposure-flint-pennsylvania

[Marie Marie]

1. Yikes.

Seems like all the cities around me are dangerously high. Thanks for posting this PADEMD.

[PADemD]

2. I drank some of that water for over 30 years.

[Marie Marie]

3. Scary huh?

I've always lived right outside of Allentown/Bethlehem but I think some of those smaller communities may have gotten their water from these sources. Just think of all the children who are currently drinking this poison.

[Number9Dream]

4. In PA, mostly due to lead based paint.

"Lead exposure is not related to the water source," said VOX.com reporter Sarah Frostenson who has been researching the topic for months now.

She says while water contamination is the problem in Flint, she says in Pennsylvania, officials say the source of the contamination is aging, deteriorating lead based paint.

We get Nazareth water, and the quality has always been much better than Allentown or Easton.

http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-lehighvalley/study-allentown-tops-the-state-in-lead-exposure/37809536

[JPZenger]

5. Lead can also be picked up from laterals and pipes inside your house

If you have children, it is a good idea to have some way to removing any lead from drinking water, as a precaution. Some of the water filter pitchers (such as Brita) do little to reduce lead. There are some pitchers that do reduce lead (such as Zerowater) or you can add an attachment to your kitchen faucet.

All public water supplies are regularly tested for lead levels. The water is fine when it leaves the treatment plant, but it can pick up lead along the way (which is what happened in Flint). Also, Flint was much worse because they didn't add the required anti-corrosion substances to the water.

[Pat Riot]

6. I'm more concerned with frack water run-off

No filter can remove toluene, benzene and the like.

[sweetapogee]

7. most of Bethlehems water comes from the poconos

http://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/water/