Tap water from several locations at Cincinnati’s Bobbie Sterne Health Center in Over-the-Rhine contains lead at levels above acceptable limits.
The health center, which serves thousands of poor men, women and children each year, confirmed Wednesday that the Cincinnati Health Department and Greater Cincinnati Water Works discovered lead after testing 55 water sources throughout the clinic.
Health Ministry spokesman José Marques said eight water sources contained lead particles “above acceptable lead levels for drinking,” based on recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Marques said none of those water sources were water fountains or other sources that would have been used regularly for drinking. He said health center staff members, including those who worked in areas where they could have been exposed to the water, were notified of the lead contamination.
“These water sources will not be used while we work on remediation,” Marques said in an email to The Enquirer.
He did not immediately respond when asked to provide further details about the water sources or the amount of lead found.
Because of the toxicity of lead, even at low levels, the EPA has set the maximum level of lead contamination in drinking water at zero.
Low levels of lead can harm children’s brains
Lead is a persistent problem in Cincinnati’s older neighborhoods, such as Over-the-Rhine, because it has been widely used for decades in paint, pipes and other materials found in homes and businesses.
Lead can enter the drinking water supply when lead-containing plumbing materials deteriorate over time. Pipes, faucets, and fixtures are the most common sources of lead in drinking water.
The Bobbie Sterne Health Center, like many downtown buildings, is more than 100 years old. Built in 1900, it contains “defective lead plumbing,” according to a report prepared by consultant Jensen Partners for the health department.
Health Ministry officials recently discussed the possibility of closing the health center, but no decision has been made. Some of those who rely on the center for their regular care want it or a more modern replacement to remain in the neighborhood.
Women and children who received care in the health center’s obstetrics/gynecology and pediatrics clinics may be at increased risk from contaminated water, as lead exposure is particularly harmful to children and women of childbearing age.
High levels of exposure can cause coma, seizures and death, but even low levels of lead are associated with harmful and permanent effects on a child’s developing brain, according to the World Health Organization.
Children exposed to lead have lower educational attainment, reduced attention spans, and increased antisocial behavior.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, no amount of lead detected in a child’s blood is considered safe.
