North Carolina System Tests For Lead At Its Oldest Schools

Charlotte's school system has completed tests for unsafe levels of lead in about half of the district's schools.  

Tests show water fixtures at 41 of Charlotte-Mecklenburg's 89 oldest schools had unsafe levels of lead. Officials say those fixtures were removed, blocked off or filtered as soon as the high levels were detected.

The Charlotte Observer reports the school system has completed a second round of testing to identify drinking fountains and other school water sources leaching unsafe levels of lead.

Most of the more than 3,000 fixtures tested within safe levels. The two rounds of testing have covered just over half the district's 175 schools. The schools that haven't yet been tested were generally built after Congress banned lead in water pipes, fixtures and solder in 1986.

Lead is toxic, especially for young children and pregnant women.