Federal officials have issued a nationwide alert after discovering that several Chinese-made faucets sold on Amazon may be contaminating drinking water with dangerous levels of lead, a toxic metal linked to cancer, birth defects, and even autism.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) identified four brands—CEINOL, KZH, Rainsworth, and VESLA HOME—that were sold widely online and may leach lead well above federal safety limits. These faucets, typically priced between $30 and $70, lack critical safety certifications and may already be in thousands of American homes.
Lead exposure, especially in children, can cause irreversible damage to the brain, heart, and kidneys. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set its safety goal for lead in drinking water at zero, and warns that no level of lead is truly safe.
“This is a serious threat to public health, especially for our children,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman. “We are moving swiftly to protect Americans from unsafe Chinese-made plumbing products.”
Despite the findings, none of the companies involved has issued a recall. The CPSC urges consumers to stop using faucets immediately and either dispose of them or run cold water for at least 15 seconds before using, since hot water can release even more lead.
This alarming faucet alert comes just days after an independent lab found lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium in dozens of major toothpaste brands, raising wider concerns about hidden toxins in everyday household items.
More enforcement actions are expected soon.
