Lead Testing Services

Cinnaminson, New Jersey, October 30, 2024

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that $26 million in grant funding is available to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities. The funding will be used in 55 states and territories, and the District of Columbia, to reduce lead exposure where children learn and play.

According to the EPA announcement:

In children, lead can severely harm mental and physical development, slowing down learning, and irreversibly damaging the brain. In adults, lead can cause increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and cancer. 

“Childhood lead exposure from drinking water is an issue in too many schools and daycare centers across the entire country,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “It’s important to note that lead is rarely found in source water, it typically enters tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. Schools, homes, and other buildings constructed before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures, and solder. One of the more common problems is brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures which can leach significant amounts of lead into the water, especially hot water. The amount of lead that may be found in drinking water also depends on the types and amounts of minerals in the water, how long the water stays in the pipes, the amount of wear in the pipes, and the water’s acidity.”

With a laboratories located across North America that offer lead testing services, EMSL Analytical is uniquely positioned to help test water samples for lead, other heavy metals, and a wide range of additional potential contaminants. EMSL also provides testing services soil, air, dust, and other types of samples. They offer all of the sampling supplies needed and even easy-to-use test kits to assess lead exposure risks.

Several years ago, EMSL sponsored an educational video about lead in drinking water that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/2kvtAcpw1MY 

To learn more about lead, or other environmental, health, and safety testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800)220-3675, or email info@EMSL.com. For access to lead test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOCs, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.