Lead detected in water at Cincinnati health clinic that serves city's poor

Tap water from multiple locations inside Cincinnati's Bobbie Sterne Health Center in Over-the-Rhine contains lead at levels that are higher than acceptable limits.

The health center, which serves thousands of poor men, women and children every year, confirmed Wednesday that the Cincinnati Health Department and the Greater Cincinnati Water Works discovered the lead after testing 55 water sources throughout the clinic.

Health Department spokesman Jose Marques said eight water sources contained lead particles "above acceptable lead levels for drinking," based on recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Marques said none of those water sources were drinking fountains or other sources that would have been routinely used for drinking. He said staff members at the health center, including those who worked in areas where they may have been exposed to the water, have been notified about the lead contamination.

"Those water sources will not be in use while we work on remediation," Marques said in an email to The Enquirer.

He did not immediately respond when asked to provide more detail about the water sources or how much lead was found.

Because of lead's toxicity, even at low levels, the EPA has set the maximum contaminant level for lead in drinking water to zero.

Low levels of lead can harm children's brains

Lead is a persistent problem in Cincinnati's oldest neighborhoods, such as Over-the-Rhine, because it was widely used for decades in paint, pipes and other material found in homes and businesses.

Lead can enter the drinking water supply when plumbing materials containing lead deteriorate over time. Pipes, faucets and fixtures are the most common sources of lead in drinking water.

The Bobbie Sterne Health Center, like many buildings in the heart of the city, is more than 100 years old. Built in 1900, it contains "failing lead piping/" according to a report compiled by consultant Jensen Partners for the health department.

Health department officials recently have discussed the possibility of closing the health center, but no decision has been made. Some who rely on the center for regular care want it or a more modern replacement to remain in the neighborhood.

Women and children who received care through the health center's OB/GYN and pediatric medical clinics may be at an elevated risk because of the contaminated water, as lead exposure is especially harmful to children and women of childbearing age.

High levels of exposure can lead to coma, convulsions, and death, but even low levels of lead are associated with harmful and permanent effects on a child's brain development, according to the World Health Organization.

Children exposed to lead have lower educational attainment, decreased attention span and increased antisocial behavior.

There's no amount of lead detected in a child's blood that is considered safe, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.