Policy Research

Elevated Blood Lead Levels in Children Associated With the Flint Drinking Water Crisis: A Spatial Analysis of Risk and Public Health Response

Mona Hanna-Attisha, Jenny LaChance, Richard Casey Sadler, Allison Champney Schnepp

Summary

The article argues that lead polluted drinking water has a disproportionately high effect on children and pregnant women, in addition to those with low socio-economic status. It continues that increased lead exposure may be expected in additional cities as infrastructure continues to decay across many American cities. It then follows that the current Lead and Copper rule leave room for misinterpretation in reporting and measuring a water systems safety.

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Policy Implications

This journal can be used to examine safety in cities with aging infrastructures. It also suggests that increasing specificity on standards for measuring and reporting risk assessment in water systems may help prevent future corrosion and lead outbreaks. Additionally it suggests that measuring lead levels in potentially toxic populations at younger ages may help catch problems before they develop.