Spatial analysis conducted by Hurley Children’s Hospital and the University of Michigan assess the number and locations of children with elevated blood levels. The institutions found that the percentage of children with elevated levels of Pb in their blood increased after the city switched water supply to the Flint River and that the majority of those children were located in “socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods” (Hanna-Attisha, LaChance, Sadler, & Schnepp, 2016). Further, blood levels were found to reach as high as 6.6% (Hanna-Attisha, LaChance, Sadler, & Schnepp, 2016). Most Pb screening methods are conducted for environmental Pb solids like paint. However, the study by the Children’s Hospital attempted to identify how many children
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Many Pb exposure prevention problems have been instated since the 1970s on both federal and local levels. The CDC explains in their guide to preventing Pb poisoning in children that Pb has the ability to “affect every part of their body” (1991). Early in understanding Pb effects, it was commonly introduced in its solid form from, most commonly, Pb paint. While high concentrations of Pb can lead to coma or death, lower concentrations affect the central nervous system lowering IQ levels with below 25 µg/dL blood level concentrations (CDC, 1991). However, this can lead to lasting effects for the affected children. The CDC also found that “dentine lead levels above 20 ppm were associated with a seven-fold risk of not graduating from high school, a six-fold risk of having a reading disability, deficits in vocabulary, problems with attention and fine motor coordination, greater absenteeism, and lower class ranking” (1991). In the case of Flint, the lower income area of the city which was subjected to Pb poisoning already has low graduation rates. For instance, children in low income neighborhoods already have a five-fold risk of not graduating without Pb poisoning (APA, 2013). Therefore, exposure to Pb early in life puts barriers in the way of success on top of the barriers which were already present …show more content…
As of, 2016 when news reports were at their peak, 12 people were found guilty and one was cooperating with investigators (Ganim & Sanchez, 2016). Although many officials were found to be involved, two notable people were directly connected to falsifying documents at the jeopardy of residents. Liane Shekter-Smith of the MDEQ is being charged with concealing evidence, ignoring evidence of noncompliance Pb concentrations, lying to superiors, and attempting to silencing EPA employees (Ganim & Sanchez, 2016). Also, Patrick Cook, drinking water unit specialist, provided the EPA with falsified data (Ganim & Sanchez, 2016). There are several more officials from a variety of departments who are directly tied to falsifying reports and concealing evidence as a unit of conspiracy. When discussing the charges in a press release, Attorney General of Michigan Bill Schuette described the acts of these leaders as “part arrogance, part viewing people in Flint as expendable”
Many Pb exposure prevention problems have been instated since the 1970s on both federal and local levels. The CDC explains in their guide to preventing Pb poisoning in children that Pb has the ability to “affect every part of their body” (1991). Early in understanding Pb effects, it was commonly introduced in its solid form from, most commonly, Pb paint. While high concentrations of Pb can lead to coma or death, lower concentrations affect the central nervous system lowering IQ levels with below 25 µg/dL blood level concentrations (CDC, 1991). However, this can lead to lasting effects for the affected children. The CDC also found that “dentine lead levels above 20 ppm were associated with a seven-fold risk of not graduating from high school, a six-fold risk of having a reading disability, deficits in vocabulary, problems with attention and fine motor coordination, greater absenteeism, and lower class ranking” (1991). In the case of Flint, the lower income area of the city which was subjected to Pb poisoning already has low graduation rates. For instance, children in low income neighborhoods already have a five-fold risk of not graduating without Pb poisoning (APA, 2013). Therefore, exposure to Pb early in life puts barriers in the way of success on top of the barriers which were already present …show more content…
As of, 2016 when news reports were at their peak, 12 people were found guilty and one was cooperating with investigators (Ganim & Sanchez, 2016). Although many officials were found to be involved, two notable people were directly connected to falsifying documents at the jeopardy of residents. Liane Shekter-Smith of the MDEQ is being charged with concealing evidence, ignoring evidence of noncompliance Pb concentrations, lying to superiors, and attempting to silencing EPA employees (Ganim & Sanchez, 2016). Also, Patrick Cook, drinking water unit specialist, provided the EPA with falsified data (Ganim & Sanchez, 2016). There are several more officials from a variety of departments who are directly tied to falsifying reports and concealing evidence as a unit of conspiracy. When discussing the charges in a press release, Attorney General of Michigan Bill Schuette described the acts of these leaders as “part arrogance, part viewing people in Flint as expendable”