WILMINGTON -- When you consider your garden hose cancer and birth defects probably don't come to mind.

Garden hoses contain harmful chemicals including lead. If you read the fine print, you'll see the warning: "do not drink water from this hose."

Environmental health specialists say for children under six - there *is* no safe amount of lead.

Thomas Stich environmental health specialist

Environmental health specialist Thomas Stich said, "It can cause memory problems, cause dizziness. It can cause liver damage."

Garden hoses should be used only to water plants and lawns.

Stich recommends that you not use your garden hose to fill up your pet's waterbowl, or to fill kiddie pools, as your child could swallow some water when playing.