Wall Street Journalさんのインスタグラム写真 - (Wall Street JournalInstagram)「AT&T, Verizon and other telecom giants have left behind a sprawling network of cables covered in toxic lead that stretches across the U.S., under the water, in the soil and on poles overhead, a WSJ investigation found. As the lead degrades, it is ending up in places where Americans live, work and play—from riverbanks across the U.S. to a popular fishing spot to a playground, according to WSJ’s tests of samples conducted by several independent laboratories. The U.S. has spent decades removing lead from well-known sources such as paint, gasoline and pipes. The Journal’s investigation reveals a hidden source of contamination—more than 2,000 lead-covered cables—that hasn’t been addressed by the companies or environmental regulators. Lead levels in sediment and soil at more than four dozen locations tested by the WSJ exceeded safety recommendations set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For many years, telecom companies have known about the lead-covered cables and the potential risks of exposure to their workers, according to documents and interviews with former employees. They were also aware that lead was potentially leaching into the environment, but haven’t meaningfully acted on potential health risks to the surrounding communities or made efforts to monitor the cables. Doctors say that no amount of contact with lead is safe, particularly for children’s physical and mental development. Risks include behavior and learning problems and damage to the central nervous system in children, as well as kidney, heart and reproductive problems in adults, according to U.S. health agencies. In response to the WSJ’s reporting, AT&T, Verizon and other telecom companies said they don’t believe cables in their ownership are a public health hazard or a major contributor to environmental lead, considering the existence of other sources of lead closer to people’s homes. They said they follow regulatory safety guidelines for workers dealing with lead. The companies and an industry group representing them said they would work together to address any concerns related to lead-sheathed cables. Read more at the link in our bio. 📷: @george_etheredge for @wsjphotos」7月10日 23時57分