President Joe Biden is setting a 10-year deadline for cities across the U.S. to replace their lead pipes which can make sure that drinking water is safe for all Americans.
This highlights an issue, safe drinking water, that Kamala Harris has prioritised as vice president and during her presidential campaign. According to a report in AP, Biden and Harris believe it’s “a moral imperative” to ensure that everyone has access to clean drinking water, EPA Administrator Michael Regan told reporters Monday. “We know that over 9 million legacy lead pipes continue to deliver water to homes across our country.
But the science has been clear for decades: There is no safe level of lead in our drinking water.’’ Lead is a heavy metal used in pipes, paints, ammunition and many other products. It is a neurotoxin that can cause a range of disorders from behavioural problems to brain damage.
Lead lowers IQ scores in children, stunts their development and increases blood pressure in adults. Lead pipes can corrode and contaminate drinking water and hence, removing them can help to reduce the severe health implications. Lead poisoning happens when there is a build-up of lead in the body.
This usually happens over several months or years. Even small amounts of lead can lead to serious health issues. Mayo Clinic says that children younger than 6 years are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect mental and physical development.
At very high levels, lead poisonin.