As old cables degrade, lead can leach into the soil at high levels, the report found.
A 2021 pediatric study found that half the kids in the US have high levels of lead in their blood.
According to the EPA, the safety standard for lead levels in the soil where children play is 400 parts per million.
The Journal's investigation found that more than 100 schools have lead cables running overhead, and more than 1,000 schools and childcare centers are within half a mile of underwater lead cables.
"We have not seen, nor have regulators identified, evidence that legacy lead-sheathed telecom cables are a leading cause of lead exposure or the cause of a public health issue."
Persons:
Linda Birnbaum, USTelecom
Organizations:
Service, Street Journal, Verizon, EPA, JAMA Pediatrics, American Medical Association, Centers for Disease Control, Wall
Locations:
Wall, Silicon, Passaic, New Jersey, Detroit, Michigan, Willamette, Oregon, Mississippi, Louisiana