The response from Nibco was this: "Due to the passing of the National Lead free law, "leaded" valves could not be used in new construction or repair after Jan 3. The valve is not dangerous, it just contains more lead than is currently allowed for new construction and repair."

So my thought is, then it's okay to ingest even tiny amounts of lead over time, just like the Romans and their aqua ducts? I don't think that worked out well for their mental health.

It's ok to be slowwwwwwly poisoned over time. Just so long as it's not all at once. Hmmmm. Somehow, I am not really fine with that.

Take a good look at your T&P Valve.. It also is brass and contains lead. Bet that it is made by WATTS Regulator..lol

I worked for Watts Regulator in the foundry that made brass ball valves, T&P valves and other brass fittings. The lead is added to the molten brass to soften it for machining. The lead added was a small amount and added by the pound. We added aprox. 20 lbs of lead to each 2500 lbs of brass. Zinc was also added to "kill" the oxygen that could cause bad castings.

Nibco brass fittings are made in Mexico and Poland mostly. And are aimed more for the gas business (natural and LP) for home use. So who knows what the lead percentage may be in their products.

If you are concerned about the lead. Check out Apollo Stainless Steel Ball Valves. They cost quite a bit more but are well worth the investment in the long run.

OTOH, since you don't normally consume water that comes from the HOT faucet, this one installation shouldn't be a health concern.
JM$.02W

Okay... so the regulations for lead have tightened up. I think it started in Californian and Vermont, and then Maryland. Since manufacturers don't want to make special inventory for a few states, they ask the feds to apply it nationwide. This has happened also with things like car emissions, light bulb efficiency (yep, those efficiency standards that conservatives go on about were requested by manufactures to eliminate piecemeal standards by states).

This is a good thing since plumbing parts can be in domestic water supply infrastructure for 100 years or more - it's good to raise the standards. That said, it doesn't mean that you need to jerk out the existing. If you still have lead pipe - that should go for sure...but you don't need to pull your pre-2014 brass valves and such. The truth is that the old valves might even meet the new regs, or be very close... but the burden of certifying them isn't worth it for the manufacturer.

Keep in mind that smoking, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle are the things that are far more likely to poison you in long term - not a very tiny amount of lead in brass valve body.

uh, ohmmm - see all that copper pipe you have ? All of those joints were soldered and I'll bet you a donut it has lead in it.

So, you're not escaping it.

could be worse. Could be pewter.