LOS ANGELES – Lead has been found in tap water in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts, raising concerns among residents about their safety, according to a study released Wednesday.

The study, commissioned by the Better Watts Initiative, found lead in tap water samples from single-family homes and particularly from public housing whose pipes had not been replaced since 1985.

Some say the study’s results provide them with the facts they have always feared.

“We’ve actually been advocating for years to have a water quality study done here in Watts,” said Thelmy Alvarez, climate services director for the Watts Labor Community Action Committee. “And it’s outrageous that it never happened. We had to commission one.”

Danielle Hoague was one of the scientists who helped collect the samples and analyze the results.

“This is a big problem because no amount of lead is safe for the human body.”

Some of the samples had lead levels above 15 parts per billion. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “maximum contaminant level target” for lead – the minimum level at which adverse health effects are likely – is zero.

“People need to be concerned about cognitive damage,” Hoague said. “It can lead to hyper-violent behavior, cognitive damage, as well as ADHD. It can also cause damage to the renal system.”

According to health experts, pregnant women and children are most at risk.

In a statement to FOX 11, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she will “do whatever is necessary to ensure the safety of Los Angeles residents, including calling the head of the EPA if necessary. HACLA and LADWP will immediately initiate next steps, including testing the drinking water in HACLA units in Watts and coordinating with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to determine the need for additional testing.”

The full study can be found at Tap or click here.