Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Clot wrote:
The Romans used pewter mugs and lead piping. We now know what lead
can do.

Pray prove that lead piping etc is a hazard to health. And it was
still being installed in the last century in this country - let alone
in Roman times. Of course lead is harmful if ingested in various ways
- but assuming it dissolves in water is not one of them.

It does indeed dissolve in water. Folk with lead pipework are advised to
flush the pipe in the morning before drawing off water to fill the kettle.
Water companies are adding phosphate at treatment works to reduce the
solubility of lead in customers supply pipes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning