Potential Lead Risk and Water Consumption Behavior in the Chicago Area: A Coordinated Oral Health Promotion (CO-OP)...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health
• Consumer Behavior

Background:

• Municipal water is generally safe and cost-effective, often fluoridated for oral health benefits.
• Despite this, many families in the Chicago region opt for alternative water sources.
• This study explores the reasons behind these choices, focusing on safety and quality perceptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if safety and quality concerns drive decisions to avoid municipal tap water.
• To examine spatial trends in lead risk related to water source preferences.
• To understand demographic factors associated with perceptions of tap water safety.

Main Methods:

• Utilized self-reported water consumption data from the Coordinated Oral Health Promotion (CO-OP) Study.
• Geolocated respondent residences (N=331) to the census tract level.
• Employed ordinal logistic regression to analyze associations between demographics, lead risk, and water preferences.

Main Results:

• 65% of caregivers reported their child never drinks tap water.
• Parents under 30 were more likely to report never giving their child tap water (OR=1.89).
• Reasons for avoidance included safety concerns (n=114), quality concerns (n=48), and preference (n=40), independent of lead risk.

Conclusions:

• The decision to avoid municipal water is driven by perceived safety and quality, not necessarily by objective lead risk.
• Understanding these consumer choices is crucial for public health initiatives promoting safe drinking water.
• Targeted communication strategies may be needed for younger parents regarding tap water safety.