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After previous samples showed high levels of lead in New Jersey’s Newark schools, another group of schools also tested positive for lead, The New York Times reports.

The Newark school district released the findings last Thursday. A total of 76 out of the 324 samples taken were above the agency’s action level. Five percent of the lead samples were discovered in water fountains or other sources of drinking water. Other tainted samples were from sinks only required for cleaning or washing hands.

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Parents from the Newark Legacy Charter School and the Paulo Freire Charter School said they weren’t aware of the findings. Thirty schools were found with high lead levels. Immediate action was taken, but some parents said they weren’t notified until later.

Parents blamed Newark mayor Ras Baraka for not speaking out about the lead findings. In the case of Flint, Michigan’s water crisis, residents have pointed to city lawmakers as well. Thousands of students have been tested in Newark for lead, which can lead to speech impediments and difficulty in school.

Former New Jersey Education Commissioner Chris Cerf, who is now the new superintendent, said drinking water would be cut from any school that showed lead above the federal limit. An additional 37 schools will be tested.

SOURCE: NY Times | VIDEO CREDIT: Inform

SEE ALSO:

Newark Public Schools Under Water Ban Due To Discovery Of Lead

FBI Joins Flint’s Water Contamination Probe, DPS Emergency Manager Darnell Earley Steps Down

More Lead Discovered In Newark’s Schools  was originally published on newsone.com