Unsafe levels of lead were found in two more elementary schools in the Bethlehem Central School District.
Of the 77 sources of water tested in the Hamagrael Elementary School, nine had lead in excess of 15 parts per billion, the threshold the state deems that some sort of action must be taken, according to the district website.
Of the 74 sources of water tested at the Eagle Elementary School, two had lead in excess of 15 ppb, according to the website.
As per a state law signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo last month, schools across the state have to test all sources of water for the presence of lead. The district must take remedial actions of any source of water that has lead in excess of 15 ppb.
The district received the Hamagrael results on Wednesday, Oct. 19:
-The bathroom since in the kitchen has 16 ppb of lead.
-The sink in Room 13 has 18 ppb.
-The sink in Room 19 has 19 ppb.
-The sink in Room 5 has 20 ppb (unused room.)
-Bathroom sink in Room 5 has 34 ppb (unused room)
-The sink in the multi-purpose room has 21 ppb
-The sink in the art room has 21 ppb
-The drinking fountain in Room 20 has 22 ppb
-The sink in the instrumental room has 32 ppb.
Anyone with questions can contact Principal Dave Ksanznak at [email protected].
Test results at Eagle Elementary came back the same day and it was found that two of the five sinks in the school’s kitchen had lead levels of 34 and 49 ppb, respectively.
Anyone with questions can contact Principal Dianna Reagan at [email protected].
Last week, the district received test results from Elsmere and Slingerlands elementary schools. Eight of the 107 samples taken at Slingerlands showed lead in excess of 15 ppb and three of 69 samples at Elsmere had lead in excess of 15 ppb.
The district took all sources of water with the elevated levels of lead off line, and are in the process of formulating a remediation plan to rectify the problem.
Results from the middle school and high school are expected within the next two weeks.
The Voorheesville, Guilderland and Shenendehowa school districts also found elevated levels of lead in certain sources of water.
If certain levels are ingested, lead can cause learning disabilities, irritably, fatigue, abdominal problems and vomiting.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, lead in drinking water is rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning. For more information about lead levels and drinking water, visit the EPA’s website.
