Flint, Michigan’s water supply has been in the news due to the high level of lead which may have poisoned city residents. The city’s disastrous decision to switch municipal water supplies resulted in high levels of lead across the city, resulting in potential harm to residents, civil lawsuits and criminal charges being filed against some public officials. High levels of lead in water are not restricted to Flint, Michigan, as the residents of Parsimony have found out.
The results of water testing at Parsippany public schools published in April found the presence of lead in water at five schools to be above the levels recommended by the federal government. The sample with the most lead was 18 times more than the amount allowed by the federal standard, reports NJ.com. The tainted water was found at the following schools:
- Parsippany High School
- Parsippany Hills High School
- Knollwood Elementary School
- Central Middle School
- Eastlake Elementary School.
The school system reported further details:
- Eastlake Elementary School has five drinking fountains whose measured lead levels were above the federal standard of 15 parts per billion (classrooms 5, 8, 14 and 16 and the water fountain between the hall and the gym). Classroom 14 had the highest level found in the school system, at 270 parts per billion, 18 times more than the recommended federal limit.
- Knollwood Elementary School water fountains in classrooms 10, 12 and 15 were found to have elevated lead levels of 25.1, 23.8 and 17 parts per billion.
- The affected drinking fountains in these schools have been shut off, and bottled water is being offered to students in the classrooms.
- High lead levels were also found in the boiler rooms at Parsippany High School, Parsippany Hills High School and Knollwood Elementary School and in the water pump room of Central Middle School. This water is not normally used for drinking.
The school system has stated it will consult with the water testing company; they met with the Parsippany Department of Health in April to develop a long-term, permanent solution so students have safe drinking water.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports there is no known safe level of lead for children. Lead exposure could cause serious injuries to a child resulting in increased risks of the following:
- Brain and nervous system damage
- Delayed growth and development
- Learning and behavioral problems (reduced IQ, ADHD, juvenile delinquency and criminal behavior)
- Hearing and speech problems.
The CDC advises that parents of children whose blood lead levels are at least 45 micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood should seek chelation therapy for their children, a medical treatment that should remove at least some of the lead from the body.
The problem of high lead levels in school drinking water supplies is widespread across the country, according to USA Today. They report about 350 schools and day care centers failed lead tests a total of about 470 times from 2012 through 2015, according to their analysis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data.
If you believe your child has suffered injuries due to lead poisoning at the Parsippany schools, call the Law Offices of James C. DeZao at (973) 358-6134 or fill out our contact form so we can talk about the situation, how the law may apply and how you may be able to collect compensation for your child’s injuries.