leadstudy_pic_lead2

Drinking water is considered a minor source of lead, but it may contribute more to exposure in areas with corroding water pipes.

LSU School of Public Health is enrolling families in the New Orleans area from specific neighborhoods.

Lead is a toxic metal that can be found in old plumbing. It can cause developmental delays, learning disabilities and behavior problems in children.

You may be at risk if you can answer yes to the following questions:

  • Do you drink or cook with water straight from the tap?
  • Is your home old or does it have old water pipes
  • Are there children or women below the age of 45 in your home?

If you answered yes to these questions, and would like to participate in this study or have more questions, contact Adrienne Katner at 504-568-5942 or LEADStudy@lsuhsc.edu.

If eligible, LSU will give you a free kit to collect your water. The kit, shipping and lab analyses are free.

If high levels of lead are found in your tap water, we can show you some free and easy steps to lower the lead. We can then re-sample your water to see if these steps worked.

Funding for this research was provided by: Louisiana Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), through the National Science Foundation and the Louisiana Board of Regents Support Grant (LEQSF-EPS(2015)-PFUND-406); and the Louisiana Board of Regents through the Board of Regents Support Fund (LEQSF(2015-18)-RD-A-13).

Healthy Babies Bright Futures is currently offering water testing. Families can get subsidized kits for as low as $12 if they can’t otherwise afford to test. Please see the details on their webpage:
https://hbbf.org/lead-test-kits