An tap sold at Aldi has been found to have up to 15 times the maximum allowable level of lead running through the water.
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The threat was identified from Queensland Building and Construction Commission, who also commissioned the testing of the water.
The estimated 12,000 households that bought an Easy Home spiral spring mixer are now being warned against using it for drinking or cooking.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has cautioned against using the $79.99 tap and said it had begun an investigation.
The estimated 12,000 households that bought an Easy Home spiral spring mixer are now being warned against using it for drinking or cooking.
According to NSW Health, lead can enter human body by inhalation or ingestion. It can affect almost every organ and system in the body. The symptoms of lead exposure depend on how long and what amount is ingested or inhaled by children. As lead poisoning often occurs without obvious symptoms, it can go unrecognised.
Lead exposure in childhood can cause behaviour and attention problems, learning difficulties and cognitive losses. It may also affect physical growth, blood cell development and the functioning of the kidneys.
The health effects from exposure to lead will depend on a variety of factors such as a person’s age, the amount of lead they are exposed to and for how long, and if they have other health conditions.
Lead can affect anybody, but children under five years of age are at greater risk because they tend to put their hands or other objects into their mouths; they absorb more ingested lead than adults; and their brains are still at developing stage so they are more sensitive to the effects of lead.
What is the disease?
- Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal, often used in industry. It can be dispersed widely in the environment through contamination of water, dust, soil, and some paints.
- Lead can affect anybody, but children under five years of age are at greater risk because they tend to put their hands or other objects into their mouths; they absorb more ingested lead than adults; and their brains are still at developing stage so they are more sensitive to the effects of lead.
What are the main sources of lead exposure in children?
- Toys: Lead may be found in the paint on some toys. While Australian standards limit the amount of lead permissible in materials used to make and paint children's toys, some imported toys may present a risk. A significant proportion of toys sold in Australia are imported from other countries.
- Environmental sources: Paint - lead-based household paints were used before 1970 in Australia and is still used in some countries.
- Dust: Household dust may contain lead particles from deteriorating lead-based household paint, contaminated soil or dust brought into the house on your or your pets' feet.
- Soil: Dirt can become contaminated with lead by deteriorating or removed lead-based paint, and previous industrial activities and mining.
- Water: Some old household pipes used to be soldered with lead. Rainwater from water tanks may have increased lead levels if lead containing dust has contaminated the roof or guttering, or by leaching lead from the roof and pipes.
- Also very old toys and cots with the original paint may contain unsafe levels of lead.
Exposure prone activities
- Renovating a house built before 1970.
- Hobbies - people can take lead residues into their homes on clothes, skin, hair and equipment after contact with lead in their work or in hobbies such as target shooting, making glazed pottery, stained glass, and making fishing sinkers.
- Occupations - such as mining and smelting.
How does lead affect children's health?
- Lead can enter human body by inhalation or ingestion. It can affect almost every organ and system in the body. The symptoms of lead exposure depend on how long and what amount is ingested or inhaled by children. As lead poisoning often occurs without obvious symptoms, it can go unrecognised.
- Lead exposure in childhood can cause behaviour and attention problems, learning difficulties and cognitive losses. It may also affect physical growth, blood cell development and the functioning of the kidneys.
- Lead ingested by pregnant women can pass through the placenta and affect babies.
