Post by Logan on Apr 10, 2016 17:31:36 GMT -6
ANCHORAGE — The only school in one of Alaska’s most eroded communities is among 28 public and private entities in the state whose water systems recently exceeded federal lead limits.
An Associated Press analysis of Environmental Protection Agency data shows the state-owned school in Newtok was significantly over the federal lead limit in 2013. The EPA calls for systems to keep levels below 15 parts per billion.
Testing at the school showed lead levels of more than 161 parts per billion. That figure was skewed by an isolated sample taken from the kitchen sink that tested out at 317 parts per billion, Cindy Christian, drinking water program manager for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, said. Five samples were collected altogether, with three of them testing at zero and one at 5.6 parts per billion.
No amount of lead exposure is considered safe. Lead contamination has been linked to problems such as learning disabilities.
Read more: peninsulaclarion.com/news/2016-04-09/analysis-28-water-systems-in-alaska-exceed-epa-lead-limit
An Associated Press analysis of Environmental Protection Agency data shows the state-owned school in Newtok was significantly over the federal lead limit in 2013. The EPA calls for systems to keep levels below 15 parts per billion.
Testing at the school showed lead levels of more than 161 parts per billion. That figure was skewed by an isolated sample taken from the kitchen sink that tested out at 317 parts per billion, Cindy Christian, drinking water program manager for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, said. Five samples were collected altogether, with three of them testing at zero and one at 5.6 parts per billion.
No amount of lead exposure is considered safe. Lead contamination has been linked to problems such as learning disabilities.
Read more: peninsulaclarion.com/news/2016-04-09/analysis-28-water-systems-in-alaska-exceed-epa-lead-limit