7 More Boston Schools Found To Have 'Unacceptable' Lead Levels In Drinking Water
BOSTON (CBS) -- Seven more Boston schools have been found to have "unacceptable" levels of lead in the water in their drinking fountains.
The schools include Patrick Lyndon K-8, Lee Academy, Josiah Quincy Elementary, Boston Latin School, F. Lyman Winship Elementary, Jeremiah E. Burke High School, and the Dearborn STEM Academy.
Boston Public Schools said in a statement that they deactivated the water fountains that tested above the acceptable level, and that those schools are expected to start the year receiving bottled water.
"Boston Public Schools (BPS) is committed to ensuring the best possible water quality by improving standards for our students and staff," BPS said in the statement.
All Boston Public Schools buildings were tested for lead in April, and these six passed. The second round of testing this summer found these fountains to have lead levels over 15 parts per billion.
"These new results indicating higher levels are likely due to testing conditions in the summer that did not reflect typical fountain usage during the school year," read the BPS statement. "BPS is working closely with the Boston Public Health Commission and the Boston Water and Sewer Commission on water testing."
Boston Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tommy Chang also shared a statement from Dr. Sean Palfrey, professor of pediatrics and public health at Boston Medical Center and medical director of the Boston Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.
"I have been impressed with how proactive and responsive the Boston Public Schools has been in keeping the water quality offered to its students as safe as possible. I feel comfortable that our children are being well protected. As I have stated publicly in May, the level of risk from lead exposure from drinking water in schools is extremely low, and virtually nonexistent where water lines are routinely flushed."
In April, high lead levels were found at the Rafael Hernandez School in Roxbury and the Kenny School in Dorchester. Four other schools were later found to have high lead levels.
