Chicago residents risk daily lead exposure from toxic lead service lines, the underground pipes that connect buildings to the city’s water supply.
The city has the most lead service lines in the country — around 412,000 — and officials don’t plan to finish replacing them all until 2076.
With complete lead service line replacement more than 50 years away, here’s what you need to know about lead and how you can protect yourself.
What’s the danger of lead?There is no safe level of lead exposure. It’s not healthy for anyone, but children under 6 and pregnant people are particularly vulnerable to the health risks.
Even small amounts in the body can cause developmental delays and cognitive problems in children, experts say, and studies link exposure to heart disease in adults. Lead can affect almost every organ and system in your body.
Chicago’s drinking water comes from Lake Michigan. City officials say the water tre... Read more
