Children are particularly sensitive because their bodies are still developing and they absorb and retain more lead than adults.
Lead poses a severe health risk to women of child-bearing age.
Lead can cause impaired development of the fetus, premature births and reduced birth weights, as well as fertility problems and miscarriages. Studies have shown that we receive an average of 15 to 20 percent of our total lead intake from drinking water. The effects of low levels of lead toxicity in humans may not be obvious. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all children be tested for lead with a blood test. The medical community and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have determined that lead poisoning is the primary environmental threat to children.