Abstract
The water lead concentrations measured in the homes of children who were part of the Edinburgh Lead study are related to the characteristics of the water supply and the household plumbing. At the time of the study one of the City of Edinburgh's two water supplies was lime treated to reduce plumbosolvency but in the second supply this treatment had not yet become effective. This allows us to estimate the extent to which this type of water treatment reduces water lead concentrations, in houses with lead plumbing, to comply with existing and proposed limits for lead in water. The kitchen cold water was supplied from a lead storage tank in 69 (15%) of the houses. These houses had the highest lead concentrations and water tre
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bailey, R.J. and Russell, P.F. 1981. Predicting drinking water lead levels. Env. Tech. Lett., 2, 57–66.
Beveridge, J.M. and Graydon, R.W. 1988. Renfrew District — lead pipe survey. J. Royal Environ. Health Inst. Scot., 2, 1–4.
Christison, R. 1842. On the action of lead upon water. Trans. Royal Soc. Edinburgh, 15, 265–76.
DEWO (Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office). 1982. Lead in the Environment, Circular 22/82. HMSO, London.
DEWO (Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office). 1989. Guidance on Safeguarding the Quality of Public Water Supplies. HMSO, London.
DOE (Department of the Environment). 1983. Lead in the Environment. The Government Response to the Ninth Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, Pollution Paper No. 10. HMSO, London.
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). 1991. Drinking water regulations. Maximum contaminant level goals and national primary drinking water regulations for lead and copper: Final rule 53. Federal Register, 56, 26460–563.
EEC (European Economic Community). 1980. Council Directive of 15th July 1980 relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption 80/778/EEC. Off. J. European Communities, L29/11-29.
Fulton, M., Raab, G.M., Thomson, G.O.B., Laxen, D., Hunter, R., Hepburn, W. 1987. Influence of blood lead on the ability and attainment of children in Edinburgh. Lancet, 1, 1221–1226.
Jackson, P.J. and Sheilham, 1. 1980. Calculation of lead solubility in water. Technical Report, No.TR152. Water Research Centre, Mednenham, Bucks.
Lacey, R.F. and Jolly, P.K. 1986. Sampling for household water-lead. Technical Report, No.TR244, Water Research Centre, Medmenham, Bucks.
Lothian Regional Council. 1990. Water Quality Report. Lothian Regional Council, Edinburgh.
MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food). 1989. Survey of Lead in Food: Third Supplementary Report of Working Party on Inorganic Contaminants in Food. Twenty Seventh Report. HMSO, London.
Pocock, S.J. 1980. Factors influencing household water lead: a British national survey. Arch. Environ. Health, 35, 45–51.
Quinn, M.J. and Sherlock, J.C. 1990. The correspondence between UK action levels for lead in blood and in water. Food Additives and Contaminants, 7, 387–42.
Raab, G.M., Fulton, M., Thomson, G.O.B. and Laxen, D.P.H. 1985. The Edinburgh lead study: aspects of design and progress. The Statistician, 34, 45–57.
Raab, G.M., Fulton, M., Thomson, G.O.B., Laxen, D.P.H., Hunter, R. and Hepburn, W. 1989. Blood lead levels, reaction time, inspection time and ability in Edinburgh children. Brit. J. Develop. Psychol., 8, 101–118.
Raab, G.M., Laxen, D.P.H. and Fulton, M. 1987. Lead from dust and water as exposure sources for lead in children. Environ. Geochem. Health, 9, 80–85.
Richards, W.N., Britton, A., Cochrane, A. 1980. Reducing plumbosolvency — the effect of adding lime to the Loch Katrine supply to Glasgow. J Inst. Water Eng. Sci., 333, 315–33.
SDD (Scottish Development Department). 1983. Lead in the Environment, Circular No. 11/83. HMSO, Edinburgh.
Statuatory Instrument 1191990. The Water Supply (Water Quality) Scotland Regulations 1990. HMSO, Edinburgh.
Thomson, G.O.B., Raab, G.M., Hepburn, W.S., Hunter, R., Fulton, M. and Laxen, D.P.H. 1989. Blood-lead levels and children's behaviour —results from the Edinburgh lead study. J. Child Psych. Psychol., 30, 515–528.
WHO (World Health Organization). 1958. International Standards for Drinking Water. World Health Organization, Geneva.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
To whom correrspondence should be addressed.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Raab, G.M., Laxen, D.P.H., Anderson, N. et al. The influence of pH and household plumbing on water lead concentration. Environ Geochem Health 15, 191–200 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00146742
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00146742