A legion of American public schools don’t have safe water for students to drink.
Over the last few years, despite a lot of testing, policy changes and the replacement of water infrastructure, many children are exposed to lead at school, authors of a new report called “Get the Lead Out,” published Thursday, say.
Lead exposure, including from school water fountains and taps, can harm health, even in small amounts, with effects on the brain and nervous system. Studies tie elevated lead levels to a lower IQ, decreased focus and even violent crime and delinquency. The persistent threat is affecting students at the same time many are trying to recover from pandemic-related school closures, as well as created and natural disasters.
