Bleiverunreinigung von trinkwasser durch leitungssysteme in Berlin

There are many acute and chronic adverse effects of lead on human beings. This is especially true for infants and children. In Germany, the intake of lead through drinking water is commonly due to metal corrosion of the user’s plumbing. In the last years and decades, many lead pipes in Germany were replaced by pipes made of alternative materials. The aim of this study was to assess the present state of drinking water contamination and the resulting lead exposure in infants, the most sensitive population group. For this purpose, mothers of newborn babies were offered a free examination of their drinking water. After a written declaration of consent had been received, two composite samples collected during the day were obtained from the families. The samples were analyzed for their lead concentration using atomic absorption spectrometry. A total of 2109 samples from house holds in the area of Berlin, Germany were collected. From the first composite samples 5.6% and 7.0% of the second composite samples demonstrated lead concentrations higher than 0.01 mg/l (recommended limit of the WHO). 0.95% of the first composite samples and 1.3% of the second composite samples had concentrations above the limit of the German drinking water regulation (0.04 mg/l). The highest measured lead concentrations is the first and second composite samples were 0.19 and 0.13 mg/l, respectively. By region, the suburbs of Charlottenburg, Neukölln, Schöneberg, Wilmersdorf and Zehlendorf were particularly severley affected with more than 10% and their samples being elevated above 0.01 mg/l.