Prevent health of lead in espresso machines

Federal Institute for Risk Assessment detects increased lead release in espresso machines

02/12/2013

Increased lead intake is associated with significant health risks, including lead poisoning. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has significantly reduced the limits for drinking water and, from the first of December, stricter legal requirements apply in view of possible health problems that may already be associated with low intakes. An unprecedented risk involves research by the news magazine „The mirror“ However, apparently Espresso machines. Here, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has found in a recent investigation significant exceedances of the limit.

In the future, no more than 0.01 milligrams of lead per liter of water may be contained, according to the statement of the Federal Ministry of Health. As the values ​​in lead lines are usually higher, „Lead-acid tubes are virtually unusable as drinking water pipes“, explained the President of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Jochen Flasbarth. If the lead limit value is exceeded, the health authority can oblige the water supplier or the landlord to eliminate the contamination, which in fact usually requires a complete replacement of the lead tubes. Although it can be assumed that the new limit values ​​lead intake via drinking water will continue to decline in the future. However, BfR has now identified the espresso machines, which are now also quite common in Germany, in the form of so-called portafilter machines as a new source of contamination.

Two out of three machines release lead
In the investigation of the BfR two out of three tested Siebträgermaschinen had attracted attention because of their high lead release, so „The mirror“. The technical judge value was thereby exceeded by 100 times. Especially immediately after the decalcification, the lead levy was particularly high, but even days later, the concentrations were still five times the limit, reports the news magazine. Due to the acidic descaling agents, the lead is probably dissolved out of individual machine parts. In the interest of consumer safety, the release of lead must be minimized, so the appeal of the BfR to the manufacturers of espresso machines. Given the effect of lead as a nerve and blood poison, increased sensitivity of the manufacturers seems urgently needed. Especially as the lead according to the message of the Federal Ministry of Health „accumulate in the body and can particularly affect the child's development of the nervous system.“ Especially pregnant women, unborn babies, infants and young children are dependent on preventive protection.

Regardless of the discussion about the release of lead by espresso machines should, according to the Federal Ministry of Health in principle „Make sure that the water is not too long (over four hours) in the pipes to drink or cook food.“ If the faucet was not in use for a longer period, the water should be allowed to run for a short time, „until it comes out of the line constantly cool“, so the hint of the Ministry. (Fp)