Officials Discover Lead in More Than 1,000 NYC Schools
At school, things like clean drinking water should be a given. In NYC, though, officials from the Department of Education have yet to fully fix more 1,100 water fixtures found to have elevated levels of lead.
Get kid-friendly activities sent to you!
Get the Best Family Activities
Still, concern lingers, as the news coincides with a citywide crisis, in which more than 2,000 children living in New York Housing Authority buildings tested positive for elevated levels of lead.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lead can cause brain damage, slow development and learning problems, among other issues.
"We have worked closely with the Department of Education to educate families about lead and what families can do if they are concerned about their child's potential exposure to lead," said Dr. Oxiris Barbot, the city's acting health commissioner, in a statement. "Everyone should know that New York City's drinking water remains the best choice for staying hydrated and an excellent alternative to sugary beverages."