Main Content
November 18, 2025
Speaker: Dr. Siddhartha Roy, Assistant Professor of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025
Time: 12pm
Location: Rutgers University, Blake Hall, Room 131, 93 Lipman Dr, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Abstract: Lead (Pb) is a toxic metal that can leach into drinking water from pipes and plumbing components. No safe level of lead exposure has been identified. In this talk, I will share findings from our new study addressing Pb contamination in rural community wells in Ghana. Despite manufacturer claims, 57% handpumps and 100% brass taps exceeded the international “lead-free” standard (0.25% Pb w/w). Laboratory experiments revealed that taps were leaching lead, on average, about 20 times higher than the World Health Organization guideline value of 10 ug/L. Consequently, we engaged manufacturers to source truly lead-free alternatives. Although initially considered cost-prohibitive, switching to stainless steel was feasible and increased overall system installation costs by <=2%. Our partner NGO permanently banned the use of leaded brass in new installations across their global operations. This study reveals vulnerabilities to lead contamination in global supply chains and illustrates the value of independently verifying manufacturer claims before installing drinking water systems in low- and middle-income countries.
This will be a hybrid event.