Lead Safety

Lead is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. While it has some beneficial uses, it can be toxic to humans and animals, causing health effects.

SOURCE: 

• EPA - https://www.epa.gov/lead/learn-about-lead

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that lead can be found where children live, play, and learn. Some water pipes, faucets, and plumbing fixtures may contain lead that can get into drinking water. Lead can also be found in paint, soil, some products such as toys and jewelry, and some candies or traditional home remedies.

The U.S. Army tests for lead in both paint and water in housing, schools, childcare centers and CYS facilities.

The U.S. federal government banned lead-based paint in 1978, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But in Germany, no clear federal guidance has been provided, though lead-based paint discontinued as early as 1961 as a best-management practice. Lead-based paint is still used in Germany in some outdoor paints typically used on monuments, according to the USAG Ansbach Environmental Division.

Lead can enter drinking water through corrosion of plumbing materials, according to the EPA. Lead has not been found in water sources providing drinking water to the USAG Ansbach community, according to the Environmental Division. Rather, lead discovered in water samples stems most often from plumbing materials such as water fixtures with shredded threads.

SOURCES:

• CDC – https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/communication-resources/prevent-lead-poisoning-in-children.html
• EPA – https://www.epa.gov/lead/protect-your-family-sources-lead
• USAG Ansbach Environmental – https://home.army.mil/ansbach/my-fort/all-services/environmental

Installation Management Command (IMCOM) oversees Army Garrisons. IMCOM Policy requires sampling at government-owned Army Family Housing (AFH) and high-risk facilities (HRF) every 5 years. HRF’s are those buildings with children age six and under and include Army family housing areas, child development centers, schools and youth centers. The IMCOM standard operating procedure (SOP) is to sample 20% of facilities per year so as to sample all government-owned AFH and HRF every 5 years. In other words, 100% of Army Family Housing buildings and High Risk Facilities on USAG Ansbach installations are tested within a 5-year cycle. The lead content thresholds were recently reduced from 0.015mg/L to 0.010mg/L.

Public Health Command-Europe (PHCE) conducts routine lead and copper drinking water monitoring across USAG Ansbach installations July 7-11, 2025. PHCE conducts water testing every three years in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lead and Copper Drinking Water Monitoring Program. Testing will be conducted at Army Family Housing and at various installation buildings. Testing is independent from annual lead monitoring conducted by UUSAG Ansbach's DPW.
 

One hundred percent of Army Family Housing buildings and High Risk Facilities on USAG Ansbach installations are tested within a 5-year cycle. High Risk Facilities are those buildings with children age six and under and include Army family housing areas, child development centers, schools and youth centers. The USAG Ansbach Environmental Division conducted the Fiscal Year 2025 annual Lead in Drinking Water Sampling across the installations to identify potential lead levels. This proactive testing is a routine part of our environmental monitoring program and is essential to ensuring the long-term safety of our water systems.

Installation Management Command (IMCOM) oversees Army Garrisons. IMCOM Policy requires sampling at government-owned Army Family Housing (AFH) and high-risk facilities (HRF) every 5 years. HRF’s are those buildings with children age six and under and include Army family housing areas, child development centers, schools and youth centers. The IMCOM standard operating procedure (SOP) is to sample 20% of facilities per year so as to sample all government-owned AFH and HRF every 5 years. In other words, 100% of Army Family Housing buildings and High Risk Facilities on USAG Ansbach installations are tested within a 5-year cycle. The lead content thresholds were recently reduced from 0.015mg/L to 0.010mg/L.

Lead testing for Fiscal Year 2025 was conducted November 2024 and April 25. 1,062 samples were tested at USAG Ansbach Army Family Housing and 245 samples were taken at High Risk Facilities and. A total of 3 sinks at USAG Ansbach Army Family Housing and 17 sinks at Ansbach Elementary School (not drinking sources) were identified as having elevated levels of lead. Corrective actions were immediately taken to address each of those faucets.

Public Health Command-Europe (PHCE) conducts routine lead and copper drinking water monitoring across USAG Ansbach installations July 7-11, 2025. PHCE conducts water testing every three years in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lead and Copper Drinking Water Monitoring Program. Testing will be conducted at Army Family Housing and at various installation buildings. Testing is independent from annual lead monitoring conducted by UUSAG Ansbach's DPW.
 

Water testing has always been conducted regularly at Army installations in accordance with federal, state and local standards. If lead is found at any water outlet at levels above 10 parts per billion (ppb), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends taking action to reduce the lead.

Children. Lead is particularly dangerous to children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Babies and young children are also more susceptible to lead exposure from frequent hand to mouth contact with objects that may contain lead or lead dust. Children can also be exposed to lead in the same ways as adults.

Adults, Especially Pregnant Women. Adults may be exposed to lead by eating and drinking food or water containing lead or from using dishes, pottery, or lead crystal glassware containing lead. They may also breathe lead dust by spending time in areas where lead based paint is deteriorating, and during renovation or repair work that disturbs painted surfaces in older homes and buildings. Working in a job or engaging in hobbies where lead is used, such as making stained glass, and casting fishing sinkers or bullets can increase exposure as can following certain folk remedies that contain lead.

SOURCE:

• EPA - https://www.epa.gov/lead/learn-about-lead 

Children age 6 years and younger and women of child-bearing age (those who may become pregnant, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding) are considered high risk groups for adverse outcomes from lead exposure. In children, low levels of exposure may result in no obvious symptoms; prolonged or high exposure can affect brain development and behavioral development, kidney function, and low blood count levels (anemia).

SOURCE: 

• Medical Readiness Command, Europe

Prolonged or high exposure to lead can seriously harm a child's health and cause well-documented adverse effects such as:

• Damage to the brain and nervous system
• Slowed growth and development
• Learning and behavior problems
• Hearing and speech problems

This can cause:

• Lower IQ
• Decreased ability to pay attention
• Underperformance in school

There is also evidence that childhood exposure to lead can cause long-term harm.

Lead exposure in children is often difficult to see. Most children have no obvious immediate symptoms. If parents believe their children have been exposed to lead, they should talk to their child's healthcare provider. They may need to get a blood lead test.

The health effects of exposure are more harmful to children less than six years of age. Younger children's bodies are still developing and growing rapidly. Young children also tend to put their hands or other objects, which may be contaminated with lead dust, into their mouths. This makes them more likely to be exposed to lead than older children.

Healthcare providers and most local health departments can test for lead in the blood, to include U.S. Army Health Clinic Ansbach. Many private insurance policies cover the cost of testing for lead in the blood. The cost of blood lead testing for children enrolled in Medicaid is covered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

SOURCE: 

• CDC – https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/symptoms-complications/index.html

Public Health advises that the high-risk population (children age 6 years and younger and women of child-bearing age who may become pregnant, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding) who used affected water sources for oral consumption and/or food preparation be evaluated by their primary care manager.

To contact your primary care manager at U.S. Army Health Clinic, Ansbach, send an MHS GENESIS Patient Portal message specifying lead concerns or call the clinic directly. Call DSN 590-3600, CIV 06371-9464-3600 or visit https://mhs-europe.tricare.mil/ansbach. The clinic will ensure you are seen virtually, or in-person, within 24 hours.

Anyone outside this higher risk group with suspected exposure is encouraged to discuss their concerns with their primary care manager for shared decision making for further evaluation.

If you think your child has been in contact with lead, contact your child's health care provider to determine whether blood lead testing should be done.  A blood lead test is the only way to find out if your child has been exposed to lead.  Most children exposed to lead have no immediate symptoms. Your healthcare provider can help you determine if your child is at risk of exposure to lead.  For children at high risk, a blood lead test can help determine the level of exposure.  Your child's health care provider can recommend treatment if your child has been exposed to lead.

U.S. Army Health Clinic Ansbach: DSN 590-3600, CIV 06371-9464-3600, https://mhs-europe.tricare.mil/ansbach

SOURCE: 

• DHA – https://ph.health.mil/topics/workplacehealth/ih/Pages/Lead.aspx

• If you find chipped paint at your home, report it to the USAG Ansbach housing office for immediate service. And if you have children living in the house, report that too.
• Always flush your water faucet after extended periods of non-use, usually two minutes is sufficient.
• Use cold water from the tap for drinking and food preparation. Daily activities such as washing dishes or hands and showering with warm water is fine.
• If you detect symptoms of lead poisoning in yourself or your family members — or if you suspect you may have taken in unhealthy amounts of lead from a previous location — contact the U.S. Army Health Clinic Ansbach or TRICARE network provider immediately. U.S. Army health clinics can take a blood test and provide results in approximately two weeks.
• More water safety tips are available from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead.
• If you have questions or concerns on the water-testing process, contact the USAG Ansbach Environmental Division.
• U.S. Army clinics can take a blood test and provide results in about two weeks.

Public Health Command-Europe will continue to test samples provided by the Department of Public Works, to include samples after corrective actions, to ensure corrective measures were effective. PHCE will continue to coordinate with USAG Ansbach and MEDDAC-Bavaria to provide drinking water subject matter expertise and health risk communication.  

Available resources:

• Lead Information for Military Families
• Prevent Lead Poisoning in Children
• Actions to Reduce Potential Lead Exposure:​​​​​​