Garden Hoses are Poisonous?!?

[Diesel]

I was watching our local news in Cincinnati this evening, and they did a segment on lead in water hoses. Here is the report:

 

 

 

Dangerous Lead in Garden Hoses

 

Posted By: John Matarese

 

 

 

When the weather gets hot, many kids cool off by playing with-- and drinking from-- a garden hose. But they may be getting more than a just a cool drink.

 

 

 

They may also be consuming dangerous amounts of lead. Wait till you see what happened when we tested ten popular brands of garden hose.

 

 

 

That may be surprising, becuase a hose is about as uncomplicated as it gets. Rip off the package, screw on the fitting and your new hose is good to go.

 

 

 

At least that's what Jerry Dehner thought.

 

 

 

The Butler County man told me he was about to hook up his garden hose.... when he noticed the brass fitting had a strange warning label on it.

 

 

 

"The label on the back says this product contains lead!" says the Ross Township man.

 

 

 

But it turns out that's precisely the warning on many of today's garden hoses.

 

 

 

You probably won't find it on the front, but if you turn the hose over, in small print on the back, it says "this product contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects and/or reproductive harm." That can't be good.

 

 

 

So we bought ten of them randomly at the places most of us shop - Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Target and Ace Hardware....filled sections with clean water...sealed the ends ...and put them outside, just like you would, for about a day. Then a colleague delivered that water to a lab.

 

 

 

What we discovered is shocking.

 

 

 

The Test

 

 

 

 

 

Five of the ten hoses came back with levels of lead higher than what the EPA allows for drinking water: 15 parts per billion...And that's only the beginning.

 

 

 

Charlie Pizarro of the Center for Environmental Health says"hoses tend to be made of PVC which is a dirty plastic and lead is used as a stabilizer in that plastic."

 

 

 

In 2004 three of the country's leading hose makers were sued by the Center for Environmental Health for having high levels of lead in their hoses. Charlie Pizarro is the group's Associate Director.

 

 

 

"Lead is a potent neurotoxin," he says. "There is no amount of lead that's safe for a child. "

 

 

 

The Center for Environmental Health won a settlement from the manufacturers, who agreed to reformulate and significantly reduce lead levels by July 31, 2007.

 

 

 

He says "they create a public health risk to children. They put children at risk for brain damage, developmental disabilities and a host of other very serious problems."

 

 

 

Some of the hoses were from 2 of the 3 manufacturers named in the agreement. And Pizarro says that agreement is important because warning labels aren't enough.

 

 

 

"There's a need," he says, "for a strong national standard on lead in all products but particularly products that are going to be used by small children."

 

 

 

The Lab's Findings

 

 

 

 

 

4 of the 5 hoses with high levels of lead were manufactured by companies that promised, as part of their court agreement, they'd make their product safer.

 

 

 

Our lab found lead levels as high as 290-parts per billion. That's almost 20-times higher than what the epa allows for drinking water.

 

 

 

We contacted the makers of the hoses that tested high in our study.

 

 

 

"Colorite - Tekni-Plex" - the maker of Colorite Waterworks products, did not respond to numerous requests for comment.

 

 

 

"Teknor Apex" - the maker of the "NeverKink" hose that we tested told us they are in compliance with the court settlement.

 

 

 

Pizarro says based on our investigation, his group is ready to take action.

 

 

 

He says: "this is appalling. Shame on you. You cannot be putting lead in products that children are going to be coming in contact with."

 

 

 

What Should you Do?

 

 

 

 

 

Experts say despite the warning labels, hoses are safe for watering plants and vegetables.

 

 

 

But don't drink from them, and make sure children know to never drink from them.

 

 

 

The only exception: Hoses specifically for RV's and campers, that are made from medical grade vinyl thats safe.

 

 

 

So stay safe and Don't Waste your Money.

 

 

 

I'm John Matarese.

 

 

 

(http://www.wcpo.com)

 

 

 

I was always a person who would take a drink of water from the hose while watering the grass. My little brother likes to run through the sprinkler with his buddies. Having dangerous amounts of lead in garden hoses is scary! I won't ever drink out of my hose again!

[Nadril]

Man I drank from the water hose as a kid all the time. -.-

[wakka102]

this must be the killer monster in the new JJ Abrams Project! HOSES THE ULTIMATE KILLER!

 

 

 

but that is creepy :-s

[indy500fan]

Same news report happens every summer. At least it has as long as I can remember. I drank water from the hose when I was young, and I still do every now and then. No lead poisoning here.

[underu2000]

I dunno, 15 parts per billion.. Or 1.5 PPM. Thats not a lot, but maybe enough to kill somebody.

 

And WHY do people drink from hoses (of all places), and insist on drinking soda/juice/somethingunhealthy and not drinking water in a glass?

[indy500fan]

And WHY do people drink from hoses (of all places), and insist on drinking soda/juice/somethingunhealthy and not drinking water in a glass?

 

 

 

When you are outside working in the sweltering heat, and the hose is right there it is very nice.

[warren211]

*stares at garden hose with contempt and rage*

 

 

 

 

 

This surprises me. Next thing you know... nuclear waste in water slides?

[IGoddessI]

Gross I wouldn't be wanting to put my mouth anywhere near something the dog could have previously pissed on, shat on, slobbered over, a snail that's ventured near a keen looking climbing object or perhaps a cane toad has thought it made a comfortable sitting post or mating destination. I think I'd prefer the lead poisoning personally.

[Diesel]

This surprises me. Next thing you know... nuclear waste in water slides?

 

 

 

I don't know about water slides, but today i heard about an earthquake that caused nuclear waste to be leaked into the Pacific Ocean from a plant in Japan or China...not a water slide, but close.

 

^Personally I think we should get rid of all the nuclear stuff in general.

 

 

 

Wow, I'm kinda the bearer of bad news today aren't I. :shock:

 

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

[heartless619]

yea iv known that drinking from the hose was bad..so i stopped about 12 years old..but occasionally if im really thirsty ill take a quick sip

[Arrr]

I liked the 'we tested 10 popular brands' like it's diet cola.

[Web_Bunny]

*Runs to sink and wash mouth*

 

 

 

Seriously. :shock:

[Nom]

I'm not as concerned with this as lead paint on children's toys being manufactured in China...

[Flametrooper]

Aaah, so drinking from hoses causes brain damage? That explains a lot. :P

[Blue_Fire_Blaze]

Its all the junk that we are getting from China. First the toys then hoses then toothpaste and now food in general.

 

 

 

Did you know that what they sell for meat stuffers is actually flavored cardboard that is shredded.

 

 

 

don't take me wrong there are some really nice Chinese people but the way they run their country makes people sick....sorry for the pun...

[Nero]

 

Personally I think we should get rid of all the nuclear stuff in general.

 

 

 

 

Yea because burning coal for power is so much better for the enviroment right?

[Nadril]

Gross I wouldn't be wanting to put my mouth anywhere near something the dog could have previously pissed on, shat on, slobbered over, a snail that's ventured near a keen looking climbing object or perhaps a cane toad has thought it made a comfortable sitting post or mating destination. I think I'd prefer the lead poisoning personally.

 

 

 

Man you don't think about that as a kid. :P .

 

 

 

My brain process as a kid went like this:

 

 

 

I'm thirsty > don't want to go inside because I'm wet > hose is here > hose has water > I can drink water > drink water.

[Zonorhc]

I was laughing by the time they said "What we discovered is shocking."

 

 

 

That's pretty much a stock phrase for tabloid reporting.

[RayOxide]

Yea because burning coal for power is so much better for the enviroment right?

 

 

 

...You don't want your childrens childrens childrens childrens childrens childrens (You get the point) to die of radiation poisoning?

 

 

 

Also, "What we discovered is shocking..."

 

 

 

STEROIDS SHRINK YOUR PRIVATES!!! :shock: :shock: :lol:

[Randox]

Didn't know they put lead in hoses, but I could have told you drinking from them (especily on hot days) is a stupid idea because they contain plastic. Many plastics will start start relesing 'bad' substances once exposed to hot water, so washing that gatorade bottle to use as a water bottle is not a good idea either. A normall water bottle will have special plastic that is not poisonus once washed.

[underu2000]

Yea because burning coal for power is so much better for the enviroment right?

 

 

 

...You don't want your childrens childrens childrens childrens childrens childrens (You get the point) to die of radiation poisoning?

 

Well, you wouldn't even have that many new generations if we use coal any longer.

 

And honestly, i think the lead is the least of you worries in pipe water. I never had many opportunities to suck water from a pipe when I was 12- anyway, so I'm A-ok.

[partyhardguy]

*stares at garden hose with contempt and rage*

 

 

 

 

 

This surprises me. Next thing you know... nuclear waste in water slides?

 

 

 

LOL!!!

 

 

 

But nuclear waste in water slides would be tragec. :shock:

[Kill_Thomas9]

"What we discovered is shocking. Water from hoses sitting in the sun all day may actually come out hot!"

[xSxqPowerx]

Does this mean I gots neurological damage?

[adam_ross0]

Meh. I drank water from hoses all the time when I was outside..and still do if I'm working in the backyard. It ain't hurt me yet, what do I have to worry about :?