For National Lead Prevention Week, we mapped out the problem

For this year’s National Lead Prevention Week (Oct. 23-29), Environment America Research & Policy Center and U.S. PIRG Education Fund updated an interactive map showing lead contamination of school drinking water across the country. The groups also released a toolkit to help families, teachers and schools get the facts on lead.

Experts warn that lead exposure exceeding a concentration of one part per billion can pose serious health risks. Yet some states have published test results showing concentrations exceeding five or even 15 parts per billion — and researchers believe the problem is worse than the current data show.

Here’s the good news: With unprecedented federal funding available, states and school districts now have the resources to replace lead-bearing fountains with water stations that have filters to remove lead from water.