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HEALTH FAMILY PROBLEMS RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATION & CAREER Dear What's The Problem, I am eight months pregnant with my second child. I have recently discovered that my house has very leaky lead pipes, and I am concerned about the potential damaging effects of lead on my unborn child and whether it will be present in my breast milk. Charlotte Lusty, France. Advice : Dr Mark Hamilton *Lead is a very toxic substance to the body and its effect is cumulative. In other words, if you are drinking water that contains lead it will eventually build up in your body's tissues and the toxic levels will increase over time. *Lead is especially harmful to children under six because when they are developing they absorb lead at a higher rate, and this can effect their kidneys, red blood cells and it can effect their mental development too. So it is important that anybody who suspects they have lead in their drinking water takes immediate action to eliminate this. *Charlotte should also be aware that lead can be passed on to her unborn baby through breast milk. She should have these led pipes removed straight away. The What's the Problem? website is providing general information only. It should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of the What's the Problem? website. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health.		FURTHER INFORMATION   Lead is a metal found in many products. It does not degrade and can appear in paint, dust, drinking water and soil. You can reduce your exposure to lead by: *Letting water run for several minutes before using it. *Eating a healthy diet, rich in iron and calcium and low in fat. * Washing hands before eating   The BBC is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites