Is anyone familiar with the possibilities of lead leaching out of many garden hoses?

DDIL brought this subject up last summer when the kids were playing in a sprinkler, expressing fears they were going to get lead poisoning. I read up on it a bit and found that something as simple as letting the water left in the hose run onto the ground before taking a drink from it takes care of the problem should there be one.
Here's a link to one of the less-hysterical articles: http://www.independent.com/new...garden-hoses-safety/

While I don't know specifially about lead & garden hoses, I DO know that I only buy hoses that specifically state that they're safe to drink from. Not all garden hoses have this designation; cheaper hoses frequently don't. So it's in your best interests to look for the "safe for drinking" spec before buying hose.

There have been numerous stories over the last few years about lead in garden hoses and most of them would have some lead in them. If the hoses are left filled with water laying in the sun that water would have a very high level of lead in it, but once water flows through the hose the amount of lead falls to very low levels. Depending on what the pipes in your house are made of they too could leach lead into the water you use. Those of us that grew up with galvanized water pipes probably were exposed to more lead than people that grew up with copper water pipes.

I think the higher grade hoses--especially those graded as safe for potable water--should have an extremely low level of lead, but letting the water that has been in them is a good idea. I believe that as the water evaporates it could concentrate the chemical additives included in most "city water" for our benefit (?).
I always thought that copper pipes had a larger danger from lead than galvanized since the solder until just a few years ago were essentially all lead based--our galvanized pipes were always too well covered with rust for lead to eat it's way through!!!

well! I can not really tell the statistics of lead possibility in hoses but i can warn from its adverse effects as i did a research on lead harmful effects.

“Lead occurs in water in either dissolved or particulate form and is more easily absorbed at low pH. Significant quantities of lead can be ingested from stagnant water in pipes or water coolers with lead solder. "

Hope we all stay away form it

Yes, there is some lead in the plastic hoses are made of, and also in the brass fittings. If water has been standing in the hose, that water may have considerable lead in it. Once that water has been flushed out the lead is very minimal.

You can get lead free hoses.

I think solder containing lead was discontinued for copper piping for home use many years ago.

WileyR: Bad news Tin-Lead solder is still available. You are correct that galvanized pipes are less likely to produce lead but then again if the galvanize is old there are other just as bad chemicals that bleed out. The plumbing code changed a number of years ago to eliminate tin-lead solder but the replacement is tin-silver and the price really esculates with that alternative so guess what plumbers use.

I think that one would be much more apt to get sick from bacteria developing in the water in the hose. After all, the hose has probably been exposed to soil, and with the water, and the warmth, things could really get to growing. However, by flushing out the sitting water, one should have dramatically reduced that.

Moral of the story, water something before you get a swig! mk

I know there's still lead solder--and it's cheaper--but almost ALL the old stuff, when we were growing up was lead, and just about everyone uses pvc now.

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If the hoses are left filled with water laying in the sun that water would have a very high level of lead in it, but once water flows through the hose the amount of lead falls to very low levels.

Any concerns about the lead in your garden??

ETA: Elliot coleman claims that carrots in particular pick up and concentrate heavy metals from the soils....

Does soil testing look at heavy metal loads in the soil??

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well! I can not really tell the statistics of lead possibility in hoses but i can warn from its adverse effects as i did a research on lead harmful effects.

I would think so as lead poisoning contributed to the fall of the roman empire! Wonder what life would be like today had it never fallen?? Interesting thought....

Lead exposure in kids can lead to decreased intelligence and other neural problems....