Like air, we all need water to live. And like air, something so vital to life should be free. But what happens when the water flowing freely from your tap is killing you? In October 2015, officials in Michigan declared the water in Flint, Michigan a "public health emergency" after a group of doctors reported high levels of lead in the blood samples in area children. Numerous studies link the neurotoxin to lower IQs and increased emotional and behavioral problems.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lead levels in Flint's drinking water are so high they are defined as hazardous waste.
On January 16, 2016 President Barack Obama declared a federal emergency in Flint, freeing up to $5 million in federal aid to immediately assist with the public health crisis, but he denied Gov. Rick Snyder's request for a disaster declaration.
A disaster declaration would have made larger amounts of federal funding available more quickly to help Flint residents whose drinking water is contaminated with lead. But under federal law, only natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods are eligible for disaster declarations, federal and state officials said. The lead contamination of Flint's drinking water is a manmade catastrophe, which points back to the lack of movement from the Governor to act when this issue immediately took place.
Since Flint's water supply was switched from Detroit to the Flint River, a move to potentially save the city $7 million, the tap water now contains twice the amount of lead. Experts cite the smelly, funny tasting and brown corrosive water is releasing lead from old pipes in homes.
This, however, isn't a new concern - in Flint and many other U.S. cities.A July 2015 article in The Atlantic reported that the U.S. received a grade "D" in the drinking water category of the American Society for Civil Engineers’ Report Card for America’s Infrastructure released in 2013. The Atlantic wrote:
The report found that most of the nation’s drinking-water infrastructure is “nearing the end of its useful life.” Replacing the nation’s pipes would cost more than $1 trillion. The country’s wastewater infrastructure also got a “D” grade.
If pipes and drinking-water infrastructures aren't upgraded, other cities across the country could become the new Flint, a scary fate particularly for children, the highest risk group.
“A child with lead poisoning presents with nothing. They are completely asymptomatic,” said Mona Hanna-Attisha, director of the pediatric residency program at Hurley Children’s Hospital at Michigan State University and the doctor who released the blood-test results in early October. “But in five years there’s an increased likelihood that the kid’s going to need special-education services. In 10 years, there’s an increased likelihood that the kid's going to have ADHD, mental health issues, and behavior issues. And in 20 years, it’s going to be a problem with the criminal justice system.”
The Silent Dangers of Lead Poisoning
Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal and is often used in industries such as mining and manufacturing. There is no "safe" amount of lead exposure, as over time it accumulates in the brain, bones, kidney and liver. Because signs and symptoms typically don't appear until dangerous amounts have accumulated, lead poisoning can be hard to detect at first.
Lead poisoning symptoms in children may look like:
- Developmental delay
- Learning difficulties
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Sluggishness and fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Hearing loss
Symptoms in newborns exposed to lead in the womb:
- Learning difficulties
- Slowed growth
Lead poisoning symptoms in adults may present as:
- High blood pressure
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Joint pains
- Muscle pain
- Declines in mental functioning
- Pain, numbness or tingling of the extremities
- Headache
- Memory loss
- Mood disorders
- Reduced sperm count, abnormal sperm
- Miscarriage or premature birth in pregnant women
Testing for Lead Poisoning
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend doctors and parents follow the recommendations of their state or local health department when it comes to testing. f your area doesn't have any specific lead testing recommendations, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends your child be tested for lead levels at ages 1 and 2. Your doctor may also suggest lead screening if your child is older, but hasn't yet been screened for lead.
Doctors usually use a simple blood test to detect lead poisoning. A small blood sample is taken from a finger prick or from a vein. Lead levels in the blood are measured in micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL). A level of 5 mcg/dL or higher indicates your child may have unsafe levels of lead in their blood and should have their blood tested periodically. If levels become too high — generally 45 mcg/dL or higher — your child should be treated.
Prevention
Ideally, the first step is to remove the source of contamination (0r potential contamination). Professionally replacing old plumbing and lead paint, and in the case of Flint, Michigan, changing the water source. In Flint, residents are currently being advised to use only cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula, and certified filters.
As a general practice, the following tips from the Mayo Clinic may also help protect you and your family from lead poisoning:
- Wash hands and toys. To help reduce hand-to-mouth transfer of contaminated dust or soil, wash your children's hands after outdoor play, before eating and at bedtime. And wash their toys regularly.
- Clean dusty surfaces. Clean your floors with a wet mop and wipe furniture, windowsills and other dusty surfaces with a damp cloth.
- Run cold water. If you have older plumbing containing lead pipes or fittings, run your cold water for at least a minute before using. Don't use hot tap water to make baby formula or for cooking.
- Prevent children from playing on soil. Provide them with a sandbox that's covered when not in use. Plant grass or cover bare soil with mulch.
- Eat a healthy diet. Regular meals and good nutrition may help lower lead absorption. Children especially need enough calcium and iron in their diets.
What's the Solution?
The problems arose after the city broke away from Detroit's water system in 2014 and began taking water from the Flint River to save money.
Please make sure to follow your city's department of water, their resolutions, and if their are any plans to divert the original source of water All of those factor into your quality of water.
For more articles, click here.