High Lead Levels Discovered In Chicago School's Drinking Fountains

It was a year ago, that Zashonda Alexander celebrated her oldest daughter's graduation from eighth grade.

High hopes turned into anxiety, though, after Alexander found out that her daughter, Junta, tested positive for lead poisoning. Tests for lead in the family's home proved negative, says Alexander and she believes the culprit may be the drinking water at Tanner Elementary , a school on Chicago's south side. Tanner was the only school to show high levels of lead when authorities conducted a pilot test of 32 Chicago public schools. Now, (This week), the school district is offering blood tests to check for lead levels of any Tanner student, if a parent requests it.

Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit NPR.