The RED circles I have made highlight the Lead (Pb) levels in parts per billion (ppb). The GREEN arrows show Lead levels that are approaching reasonable standards that are protective of children’s health.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation is that Lead levels in drinking fountains at schools should be at or BELOW 1 ppb (one Part Per Billion) Lead.
Representatives of Portland Public Schools (including Marylyn John, the VP at Sellwood Middle School) are insisting that levels “below 15 ppb” are safe enough for Portland’s school children! So they are declaring fountains with lead levels of 7, 10, or 12.7 ppb “safe” and putting green signs on these fountains to alert children that they are allowed to drink out of them now (after they have been closed for two years.)
If you have questions about this recommendation check out these links below:
- Blog post by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) on the subject (published November 6, 2018). LINK
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Council on Environmental Health. Prevention of Childhood Lead Toxicity. Pediatrics. Published August 1, 2017. LINK (to their blog), LINK (to the PDF on their site), LINK (to the PDF uploaded here on my site, just in case theirs goes down.)
Below is a screen shot from the American Academy of Pediatrics Statement linked above.
Screenshot From the AAP August 2017 Report.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
Tamara Rubin
Mother of Four Boys (Two currently in PPS schools.)
#LeadSafeMama
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