A group of Christian ministers last month called for the rapid removal of lead water pipes in Illinois, which tops the country in the toxic infrastructure posing a danger to public health.

Church leaders from “Ecumenism Metro Chicago” — including Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist and other faith leaders — appealed to federal and state lawmakers to “make every effort to replace all the lead water pipes in Illinois as quickly as possible.”

In a prayer service at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church in Chicago, Christian church representatives signed two environmental statements to go to authorities.

Lead is a heavy metal and a neurotoxin. There is no safe level of exposure to lead, which when ingested can cause serious damage for people of all ages but especially children.

Lead exposure in children has been linked to lower IQs, shorter attention spans, and behavioral problems. In adults, lead has been found to increase blood pressure, heart disease, kidney damage, and cancer.

Drinking water is one of the main sources of lead exposure in the nation, with Illinois alone estimated to have more than one million lead service lines, the highest in the nation, according to a 2023 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report.

“We’re looking for the Illinois EPA and the U.S. EPA to do everything possible to fund the removal of these lead water pipes as quickly as possible,” said George Nassos, a chemical engineer and member of the Greek Orthodox Church.