[Catalist] A Study in Environmental Chemistry: Lead in portable Drinking Water

[Michael McGarry]

Greetings Science Colleagues,


ABC URL: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-20/govt-to-pay-lead-contamination-fix-perth-childrens-hospital/8457388 <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-20/govt-to-pay-lead-contamination-fix-perth-childrens-hospital/8457388>
The above ABC online news report motivated me to conduct www research into the causes, distribution and degree of lead contamination in Australian drinking water. [There is a serious lack of Australian webpages informing lead in drinking water.]


Dosing of portable water with Phosphates

The dosing of portable water with phosphates can reduce lead contamination.


URL: http://orendatech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Potable-Water-Treatment-phosphates.pdf <http://orendatech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Potable-Water-Treatment-phosphates.pdf>
Does phosphate dosing provide a long-term solution to lead contamination of portable drinking water?


“Brass fittings to blame for lead scare: Government” [ABC news story]

“Mr Wyatt [WA State Treasurer] said it was the Government's view the lead contamination was a result of the de-zincification of brass fittings in the pipes.”


Given that the alloy brass is mainly a solid, blended mixture of copper and zinc metals surely manufacturers of brass would never attempt to de-zincify brass?


Lead content in Brass

Brass can be lead free or leaded brass. Lead metal is added to brass to increase the machinability of the brass during manufacture of plumbing fittings, e.g., taps.


During machining of leaded brass for taps, patches of lead metal concentrate on the surface of the leaded brass. These patches of lead on the inside of the leaded brass taps, especially hot water taps, leach into the water.

Were lead-free brass plumbing fittings used in the building of the Perth Children’s Hospital? Do Australian Federal and State government regulations require the installation of lead-free brass fittings in the pluming of Hospitals? [Stainless steel taps do not contain lead metal!]

Lead affects brain development in children resulting in learning difficulty.

Mayo Clinic URL: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/symptoms-causes/dxc-20275054 <http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/symptoms-causes/dxc-20275054>
Additional URL’s that inform causes and distribution of lead contamination in water.

URL 4: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2100806-lead-in-australias-drinking-water-is-leaching-from-brass-taps/ <https://www.newscientist.com/article/2100806-lead-in-australias-drinking-water-is-leaching-from-brass-taps/>
URL 5: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101111141849.htm <https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101111141849.htm>
URL 6: http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/research/completed-research/reports/DWI70-2-287exsum.pdf <http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/research/completed-research/reports/DWI70-2-287exsum.pdf>
URL 7: http://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2010/11/111710-engineering-edwardsunc.html <http://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2010/11/111710-engineering-edwardsunc.html>
URL 8: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02670836.2016.1220906 <http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02670836.2016.1220906>
Best Wishes,


Michael John McGarry
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