Raising Natural Kids just posted this excellent article which I highly encourage anyone who uses a garden hose to water plants, animals, fill a kiddie pool, etc. to read. Some of the concerning facts:
- Water sampled from one hose contained 0.280 mg/l (ppm) lead. This is 18-times higher than the federal drinking water standard of 0.015 mg/l.
- BPA levels of 2.3 ppm was found in the hose water. This level is 20-times higher than the 0.100 ppm safe drinking water level used by NSF to verify that consumers are not being exposed to levels of a chemical that exceed regulated levels.
- The phthalate DEHP was found at 0.025 ppm in the hose water. This level is 4-times higher than federal drinking water standards. EPA and FDA regulate DEHP in water at 0.006 mg/l (ppm)
- 100% of the garden hoses sampled for phthalates contained four phthalate plasticizers which are currently banned in children’s products.
- Two water hoses contained the flame retardant 2,3,4,5-tetrabromo-bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (TBPH).
Here’s a link to the entire article: http://raisingnaturalkids.com/2013/04/26/garden-hoses-a-potential-health-risk/
Some made in the USA, safe options:
From Amazon: 6/16/2105: I FINALLY purchased a made in USA, drinking water safe hose–it has been on my list for a few summers now, after reading this info from Raising Natural Kids, one of my favorite pages: http://amzn.to/1SgtRSR
We have nine 6 week old chickens that we are watering from the hose, and we do have a kiddie pool my in-laws brought home from a garage sale for $1 that my kiddos have been loving splashing around in, so I want to make sure we have lead-free water!! This one was a good deal with free shipping & in the length I wanted so I’m so happy to have just ordered it!
Other options that have been shared with me: http://www.strongmarketinginc.com/Garden_Hoses.html
Eco-friendly baby/family products MADE in USA 