Your garden hose may be delivering more than water to you, your garden's soil and plants, pet's drinking water, and children running through the sprinkler or splashing in the play pool.

When recently looking for a new garden hose, I was perplexed by the warning labels on many of the most durable models: "Wash hands after using," "Do not drink from this hose," and "This product contains a chemical known to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm."

The labels were small and often obscure. Many hose brands did not have warnings, but I soon discovered that was not a good sign either.

Lead is a metal and neurotoxin found in a majority of garden hoses. Lead, an ingredient in the polyvinyl- chloride (PVC) tube and in the brass fittings, leaches from the hose and into the water. Especially high lead levels are found when a hose sets in heat or the sun with water inside. A gardener's hands in contact with the hose are also in touch with lead. Lead- laced drinking water fills pet bowls and kiddy pools daily. Have you ever sipped water from the garden hose?

Most garden hoses are conduits leaching lead- laced water into the environment.

Can one find a lead- free hose? My search for a safe product took me through the EPA, lawsuits filed on hose manufacturers by the Environmental Health Association, Consumer Reports findings and at least twelve different local retailers. When one popular well- known and made in America brand hose claimed on its product label "The last hose you will ever buy," can now assume the claim is related to the lead not longevity of the hose.

Lead- free hoses are few and far between. They are made of lightweight medical grade vinyl and have nickel- plated fittings not brass. Most are marketed as camper or RV hoses for potable water. All are labeled as lead- free. Most manufacturers of lead- free hoses make a multitude of models containing lead. In fact, lead- free hoses are categorized as "specialty" products. Let the buyer beware.

Lead- free garden hoses

• Apex Aquaflex R/V and Marine Hose

• GatorHyde Drinking Water Safe Garden Hose

Cooling off in a garden sprinkler is one of the pleasures of childhood. Is the hose delivering lead- free water?

• Teknor Apex Eco- smart and Family Safe Aqua- Pure Neverkink

• Swan Drinking Water Safe Hose

The criteria for selecting a garden hose have become clearer. Durability of the hose's life is less important than the quality of human life served. The composition of the hose and its connections is paramount in determining its environmental safety. The thickness, diameter, color, length, flexibility, kinking, weight, price, warranty, and brand name are minor characteristics when considering what a garden hose's purpose should be: to deliver safe water to whomever, whatever or wherever the target.

"Hoses, hoses everywhere, but few are safe to drink from." APEX makes a drinking water safe four- ply hose for boating, camping, and gardening. Swan manufactures several "lead- safe" water hoses sold by Lowe's. Large label letters advertise this hose's lifetime warranty, kink resistence, dense ply, length, and diameter but read the fine print: Not safe for drinking. The most that can be said for this hose is that its color makes it visible under foot . Solid brass fittings are one clue to the lead in the hose. This APEX model posts label warnings about its lack of safety for drinking.