Get matched with top lead testing and removal specialists in Leroy, AL

Some causes of brown well water—like excess tannins or dissolved iron—don’t pose a health risk. In other cases, harmful bacteria might be the culprit. If your well water has suddenly turned brown, it’s a good idea to use a home water test kit to get a better sense of what’s going on with your water. Consider calling a professional for an expert opinion before drinking the water and hoping for the best.

You do not have to remove lead paint if the surface is not chipping or peeling or if there are no pregnant people or children under the age of six who live in or regularly visit your home. Lead paint is a particular risk for young children whose brains and bodies are not fully developed. Experts strongly recommend that you call a pro to remove lead paint if it’s peeling or flaking, no matter who lives in the home. You can experience lead poisoning by breathing in or ingesting just a small amount of it.

Several different measurements may be used to determine the amount of lead in water. The most common unit of measurement is micrograms per liter (µg/L), which is the same as parts per billion. Another measurement is milligrams per liter (mg/L), which is the same as parts per million.

Lead toxicity comes from inhaling lead or consuming it. Before the 1980s, when the government banned lead from consumer use, it could be found in paint, plumbing, pipes, ceramics, and even gasoline. Lead paint is toxic for the same reason lead itself is toxic, which is why lead poisoning from paint presents the same as lead poisoning from water or food sources, with a slight increase in respiratory symptoms vs. digestive symptoms. Lead paint is most dangerous when it’s old and peeling, cracking, or otherwise disturbed. This increases the concentration in the air and, therefore, in breathable air.