Lead In School Drinking Water: The Ongoing Crisis And California's Leadership.pdf

Lead in Schools’ Drinking Water:
- A Harvard study found that 44% of nearly 11,000 schools had at least one sample test positive for lead.
- Only 15 out of 25 states require or fund lead testing in schools, leading to varying action levels (5-20 ppb) across the nation.
- California is among seven states that mandate schools to test their drinking water for lead, with a limit of 15 ppb.
- Schools are required to notify parents if lead concentrations exceed this limit and take action to replace contaminated fixtures.

Chemical Donations:
- Free chemical donations from individuals, businesses, or other schools can pose significant compliance issues for schools.
- Past lax regulations led to schools accumulating undocumented, unlabeled, and potentially hazardous chemicals and specimens.
- A recent case involved a Florida high school discovering a fetus in formalin, highlighting the need for proper handling and disposal of such items.
- Schools should have a policy guiding chemical donations, ensuring all materials are properly inventoried, labeled, and disposed according to regulations.

Safety Guidelines:
- The California Science Safety Handbook (2014) offers guidelines to mitigate risks in school laboratories, addressing common mishaps like chemical spills and improper disposal of hazardous waste.
- Teachers play a crucial role in advocating for laboratory instruction while ensuring student and staff safety through proper protocols.