I got an email from The Clean Water Pipe Council, an advocacy group focusing on the risks associated with PVC and drinking water.
On the homepage you'll find a cute picture of a girl drinking from a hose. Then you read under it the warning tag that came with the hose: "WARNING: This garden hose made from PVC contains lead. Do not drink water from it and wash your hands after handling it."
Suddenly the picture is now scary and upsetting.
I've written about lead in toys. Christmas tree lights. Cords. Bibs. But I hadn't thought of the #%^%$ garden hose. Of course it makes sense, it is that same bendable plastic, the same PVC that pops up everywhere and is likely to carry lead.
It shouldn't be this way. We shouldn't have to worry about every product in our home, if it contains poison to harm our children.
The Council feels the same way. They've got the facts and the science about PVC, as well as links to many other resources to learn more.
7 comments:
Thanks for the information. I am looking for a under the sink water filter that will remove all the harmful stuff including fluoride -- any suggestions?
I have an Aquasana that I really like. it can be attatched to the faucet on top or underneath( if you have a secondary access hole on the sink for the faucet for the filtered water to come out.) this particular unit has won the award for best unit from the consumers guide a few years in a row.
And what about watering your garden???? I just can not stop thinking of this -- frustrating!
Yep. I've read that that people AND pets shouldn't drink out of the garden hose. Makes sense...bendy plastic sitting in the hot sun day after day.
Amy,
It looks like you got a good tip from books at bedtime! I have a well, and no flouride and relatively good water, so I don't worry about that and haven't done the research.
Amy and CJ, I know, one of the pure and simple summer joys. Frustrating!
i also received a tip on a gardeners blog that said to buy a hose that is for 'potable' water. apparently you can find them at camping stores. they are white with a blue stripe. (or it is blue with white?) anyway... they should be labeled for drinking, i assume. i also thought i read about a filter that you can attach on the hose. i think it may be a water sprayer combo, sorry! i can't remember. please google it if you have time! our investigator news reporter here in salt lake uncovered the hose dilemma awhile back as well as crock pots and dishes, so beware!! (ksl.com)
thanks katie for a super awesome blog! love it :)
How can PLASTIC contain LEAD? Isn't lead a metal??? Then, please explain how it could carry lead in it? Could the hose FITTINGS be made of lead rather than the plastic tubing? Please make some sense of this for the common thinking person.
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