The Nation - News from Nov. 6, 1986

The government could curb IQ losses in thousands of children and reduce adult risks of hypertension and pregnancy problems by limiting the allowable lead content in drinking water, a study said. The research by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Policy Planning and Evaluation was designed to analyze likely benefits of a proposal to limit lead levels in community drinking water systems to 20 micrograms per liter. The current limit is 50 micrograms per liter. An estimated 40 million Americans use drinking water that contains more than 20 micrograms per liter of lead.