Portland Schools Lead Latest: Students Who Tested High Exposed at Home

Two Portland children who tested last month for high levels of lead in their blood had been exposed by a household source, the Multnomah County Department of Health announced Tuesday.

The students were the only two of 519 children and adults from Creston and Rose City elementary schools were tested after concerns had been raised about lead levels in the schools.

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"We're cautiously reassured that after screening hundreds of children and adults, the only people with elevated lead in their blood were not exposed by drinking water," said Dr. Paul Lewis, Multnomah County Health Officer.

While there has been a steady stream of reports finding high levels of lead in the drinking water at numerous Portland Public Schools facilities, the health department has not connected anyone in Multnomah County with high levels of lead in their blood to drinking water.

Meanwhile, the health department said that "higher levels of lead have been found in some fixtures in almost all Portland Public schools tested so far this summer."

One of the schools with the highest levels of lead being found was Jefferson High School.

Lab results posted by the district show that nearly 200 showers, sinks, water fountains, and other fixtures had water with lead levels at or above the what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says should be the maximum - 15 parts per billion.

One sink tested at 9,070 parts per billion.

Jefferson, built in 1909, is the second oldest school in the district that is still in use.

Portland Public Schools has set up a web page where they post results as they come in.