AT&T Inc. has addressed concerns over lead-clad cables following recent tests conducted at selected sites. The company assures the public that the cables do not pose a risk to public health, according to a company spokesperson. Despite this reassurance, AT&T will continue conducting tests and collaborate with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by providing testing data.
In a recent update, AT&T disclosed the results of the second test performed by a prominent expert on underwater cables in Lake Tahoe. The test confirmed that the lead-clad cables in Lake Tahoe are not a public health concern and did not detect any lead leaching from the cables. These findings align with the results of a 2021 study conducted by independent experts in collaboration with AT&T.
AT&T also discussed preliminary results from ongoing tests at a site in Detroit where aerial cables are present. Similar to the underwater cables, the aerial cables were not found to pose a health threat.
The company asserts that there is no significant difference in measured lead levels between the soil directly below the cables and the background levels in the same area. In fact, the lead levels in the soil below the cables are lower than average household soil lead levels in the Midwest according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. These levels also fall far below the EPA's screening level for lead in residential soil.
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