New York City school finds lead levels 16 times higher than Flint

Two schools in the Bronx recently tested high levels of lead

Justin Carissimo

New York

Tuesday 07 February 2017 21:50 GMT

(Tamara528/iStock)

Two public schools in the Bronx recently found elevated levels of lead in their water, with one testing 16 times higher than Flint, Michigan.

The city Department of Education issued a letter to parents on Monday informing them that lead levels are higher than the EPA’s action level of 15 parts per billion, NBC New York reports.

Ten of the 63 fixtures at PS 41 in Olinville are currently running high lead levels including four drinking fountains and several water faucets. Two water faucets tested at 442 parts per billion, the most toxic at the school.

“We're not saying it's not safe but we want to make sure we have precautionary measures in place for any child washing their hands or any worker washing their hand or anyone drinking water, that it's ok,” City Council Member Andy King told local Pix 11.

In pictures: Flint water crisis

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In pictures: Flint water crisis

Anthony Fordham picks up bottled water from the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan to deliver to a school after elevated lead levels were found in the city's water in Flint

Reuters

In pictures: Flint water crisis

Michigan National Guard Staff Sergeant William Phillips (L) assists a Flint resident with bottled water at a fire station in Flint

Reuters

In pictures: Flint water crisis

Flint residents Arthur Woodson, left, and Tony Palladino Jr. protest the arrival of Flint native and filmmaker Michael Moore as Moore accuses Gov.Rick Snyder of poisoning Flint water during a rally outside of city hall in Flint

AP

In pictures: Flint water crisis

Flint residents pick up bottled water and water filters at a fire station in Flint. Michigan National Guard members were set to arrive in Flint to join door-to-door efforts to distribute bottled water and other supplies to residents coping with the city's crisis over lead-contaminated drinking water

Reuters

In pictures: Flint water crisis

Soldiers from the Michigan Army National Guard Flint prepare to give Flint residents bottled water at a fire station in Flint

Getty Images

In pictures: Flint water crisis

Justin Roberson (L), age 6, of Flint, Michigan and Mychal Adams, age 1, of Flint wait on a stack of bottled water at a rally where the Rev. Jesse Jackson was speaking about about the water crises at the Heavenly Host Baptist Church in Flint

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In pictures: Flint water crisis

A man sits next to a stack of bottled water at the Heavenly Host Baptist Church in Flint

2016 Getty Images

In pictures: Flint water crisis

The top of a water tower is seen at the Flint Water Plant. President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in Michigan and ordered federal aid to be used to help state and local response efforts to an area affected by contaminated water

Reuters

In pictures: Flint water crisis

Rosie Wright, center, rallies with the crowd over Flint's water crisis in Ann Arbor, Michigan

AP

In pictures: Flint water crisis

Rick Catherman participates in a rally around Flint's water crisis in Ann Arbor, Michigan

AP

Parents are understandably worried and one father brought his daughter in for lead testing. "We're just trying to follow up and make sure there is nothing in her body," he told the news outlet.

Another school, IS 158, found high levels of lead in three classrooms, the girls restrooms, the kitchen, weight room, and boys locker room, the website DNAInfo reports, testing well above the EPA threshold.