Commentary Article

            Over the past year, lead contamination in water had been addressed over and over. Lead exposure in children can cause decreasing bone and muscle growth, damage to the nervous system and kidneys functions. Lead can cause kidney failure and high blood pressure in adult, especially pregnant women. Many factors can cause lead exposure in drinking water such as lead leaching out of the lead pipes and into the water. Since lead led to many dangerous damages, Congress and many organizations had been stepping up to fix the issue to ensure healthy conditions. School is one of the main places where lead exposure needs to be checked up because this is where kids may spend their time the most. Some schools in Texas are taking action to get lead out of drinking water because some school districts have reported lead contamination in schools’ drinking water. Couples of options have given out such as replacing hundreds of drinking fountains which are over 30 years old, regularly testing lead level in school water and posting results online. These may cost lots of money; therefore Texans are campaigning to ask for funding from Congress and Texas Legislature. 

U.S Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson wrote about lead contamination in Texas schools’ drinking water last week. It is very straight forward and clear about what she wants to address.  She did a very good job when she briefly summarized the topic in general at the beginning. The dangerous damages of lead in drinking water were pointed out in understanding words. This technique really drags readers into the topic, then gradually points out and focus on the effect in Texas. She provided many detailed record numbers as evidences, then tried to explain and voice her opinions based on the evidences. Her reason to prevent lead exposure in school is because school is a place that kids spend most of their time. According to a recent report, 28 out of 116 schools tested were found to have unsafe lead levels (about 25%), so many kids may be affected by lead in water. Since kids are our future hopes, so their health should be taken care of. 

Based on the writer opinion, it seems like she totally aims to support for the funding to take lead out of drinking water in Texas. Personally, I also agree with her opinion which Texas’ government should take actions on this issue to ensure kids’ healthy and safe conditions. The faster the issues are fixed, the better the reductions of the effect of lead contamination. Some schools are taking a good start to regularly test their water for lead. This is not only Texas issue but also the national problem too.

Source:http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/opinion/commentary-lead-contamination-in-texas-schools-dri/nshKn/