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appalachiablue

(41,144 posts) Tue Dec 15, 2015, 01:25 PM Dec 2015

In Flint, Michigan, There's So Much Lead in Children's Blood That a State of Emergency is Declared

Source: Washington Post

For months, worried parents in Flint, Mich., arrived at their pediatricians’ offices in droves. Holding a toddler by the hand or an infant in their arms, they all have the same question: Are their children being poisoned?

To find out, all it takes is a prick of the finger, a small letting of blood. If tests come back positive, the potentially severe consequences are far more difficult to discern.

That’s how lead works. It leaves its mark quietly, with a virtually invisible trail. But years later, when a child shows signs of a learning disability or behavioral issues, lead’s prior presence in the bloodstream suddenly becomes inescapable.

According to the World Health Organization, “lead affects children’s brain development resulting in reduced intelligence quotient (IQ), behavioral changes such as shortening of attention span and increased antisocial behavior, and reduced educational attainment. Lead exposure also causes anemia, hypertension, renal impairment, immunotoxicity and toxicity to the reproductive organs. The neurological and behavioral effects of lead are believed to be irreversible."

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/12/15/toxic-water-soaring-lead-levels-in-childrens-blood-create-state-of-emergency-in-flint-mich/

https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=

Flint, Michigan resident Gladyes Williamson cries out through her tears, overwhelmed with frustration over the water drawn from the Flint River.

16 replies

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In Flint, Michigan, There's So Much Lead in Children's Blood That a State of Emergency is Declared (Original Post) appalachiablue Dec 2015 OP

I would guess that every "Boomer" has high levels of lead in our systems, bvar22 Dec 2015 #1

It's pretty easy to mitigate leaded paint. jeff47 Dec 2015 #2

My brothers and myself "teethed" on lead painted furniture in the 50s. bvar22 Dec 2015 #3

That's why I mentioned chewing on the painted surface. jeff47 Dec 2015 #4

Yeah. bvar22 Dec 2015 #6

Then you must be a natural super genius cui bono Dec 2015 #12

No, there's a very strong class bias. Jim Lane Dec 2015 #15

From no such thing as global warming to excessive lead in the water Stargazer99 Dec 2015 #5

I hope the afflicted residents have a chance with their federal lawsuit against Synder appalachiablue Dec 2015 #8

Bipartisanship on sad display here. proverbialwisdom Dec 2015 #10

The "Pro Life" party of "Family Values" ... Martin Eden Dec 2015 #7

Sickening hypcrite criminals in charge, of reaping profits and killing us and the appalachiablue Dec 2015 #9

Sad. These poisoning corporations must be stopped immediately. The environment cleanup needs Dont call me Shirley Dec 2015 #11

Wonder if lead and violent crime rate are related. hollowdweller Dec 2015 #13

Supposedly they are. Some of the 'crime epidemic' that peaked in 1992 was attributed to appalachiablue Dec 2015 #14

The Interview YOU MUST LISTEN TO.... LovingA2andMI Dec 2015 #16

bvar22

(39,909 posts)

1. I would guess that every "Boomer" has high levels of lead in our systems,

Reply to appalachiablue (Original post)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 02:05 PM

Dec 2015

from the heavily leaded gasoline we burned, to the lead based paint used to paint everything.
I would be worried if I lived in older suburb or 1st ring housing of an urban area,
especially if I were raising children.

jeff47

(26,549 posts)

2. It's pretty easy to mitigate leaded paint.

Reply to bvar22 (Reply #1)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 02:19 PM

Dec 2015

Paint it again.

After that, the child would have to gnaw on the painted surface to get exposed to lead. Though you will have to keep the leaded paint in mind during any future remodeling since that may get the old paint into the air.

bvar22

(39,909 posts)

3. My brothers and myself "teethed" on lead painted furniture in the 50s.

Reply to jeff47 (Reply #2)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 02:28 PM

Dec 2015

We didn't know about Lead Paint back then.

jeff47

(26,549 posts)

4. That's why I mentioned chewing on the painted surface.

Reply to bvar22 (Reply #3)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 02:34 PM

Dec 2015

Because it's not a perfect fix. But the "chewing on the walls" stage of development is relatively brief.

bvar22

(39,909 posts)

6. Yeah.

Reply to jeff47 (Reply #4)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 03:11 PM

Dec 2015

I would probably be really smart today if I hadn't eaten all that lead, and played on our heavily leaded lawns...not to mention running in the DDT fog behind the Mosquito Spray trucks.

I coulda been a contender!!!!

Actually, we (brothers & I) seemed to have survived OK,
but many, MANY of the kids I grew up with are having all types of muscular and nerve sicknesses.

cui bono

(19,926 posts)

12. Then you must be a natural super genius

Reply to bvar22 (Reply #3)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 05:46 PM

Dec 2015

because your posts on DU are brilliant after all those lead snacks!

!

Jim Lane

(11,175 posts)

15. No, there's a very strong class bias.

Reply to bvar22 (Reply #1)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 11:35 PM

Dec 2015

Lead paint, when it peels or crumbles, is by far the most significant vector of lead poisoning. Lower-income families are much more likely to live in older housing that's poorly maintained, and much less likely to have adequate remediation (which is expensive).

I've represented quite a few children with lead poisoning. I can remember only one case that involved a middle-class family. The other lawyers and I were all struck by their status, because it was so unusual.

Stargazer99

(2,585 posts)

5. From no such thing as global warming to excessive lead in the water

Reply to appalachiablue (Original post)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 03:11 PM

Dec 2015

Keep voting Republican....see how much human misery you can acomplish

appalachiablue

(41,144 posts)

8. I hope the afflicted residents have a chance with their federal lawsuit against Synder

Reply to Stargazer99 (Reply #5)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 03:50 PM

Dec 2015

and other officials for ignoring known warnings about water corroded by nearby factory waste flowing in lead in pipes and the premature switch to Flint river water in April 2014, well before the Lake Huron pipeline was scheduled for completion. And there was 'no money' in the budget to clean the water for the Flint residents in the meantime. But even if they receive some financial compensation the misery and permanent damage to these people and kids are irreversible.

The manoeuver epitomizes criminal, for profit, GOP rule. People and nature be damned, it's all about business and profit. Michael Moore has been aware of this Flint nightmare I'm sure. The writer of the corporate news article naturally left out further information about contaminants that should have been included.

proverbialwisdom

(4,959 posts)

10. Bipartisanship on sad display here.

Reply to Stargazer99 (Reply #5)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 03:56 PM

Dec 2015

2015: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141284425#post20

2015: http://www.democraticunderground.com/104012213

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11793206

2013: Exide Technologies, GNB Industrial Power, Aurora, Ill., is being awarded a $49,900,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for valve-regulated lead acid batteries and associated accessories for Ohio, Los Angeles, Virginia and Sea Wolf class and moored training submarines. The batteries and accessories will be used on Navy submarines as secondary sources of power. Work will be performed in Fort Smith, Ark., and is expected to be completed by March 2017. Fiscal 2013 Operations Procurement Navy funding in the amount of $2,851,359 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-13-D-GS27).

Martin Eden

(12,870 posts)

7. The "Pro Life" party of "Family Values" ...

Reply to appalachiablue (Original post)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 03:26 PM

Dec 2015

... is owned by toxic polluters.

appalachiablue

(41,144 posts)

9. Sickening hypcrite criminals in charge, of reaping profits and killing us and the

Reply to Martin Eden (Reply #7)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 03:53 PM

Dec 2015

environment.

Dont call me Shirley

(10,998 posts)

11. Sad. These poisoning corporations must be stopped immediately. The environment cleanup needs

Reply to appalachiablue (Original post)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 04:48 PM

Dec 2015

to become priority #1.

hollowdweller

(4,229 posts)

13. Wonder if lead and violent crime rate are related.

Reply to appalachiablue (Original post)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 05:49 PM

Dec 2015

appalachiablue

(41,144 posts)

14. Supposedly they are. Some of the 'crime epidemic' that peaked in 1992 was attributed to

Reply to hollowdweller (Reply #13)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 06:15 PM

Dec 2015

lead in gasoline which was altered in the 80s, maybe 70s to 'unleaded' gas. Can't recall the exact years of the change. This same Flint news article is now posted in Gen. Discussion with very good comments, some by locals about why this happened, contaminants that get into water systems like road de-icing chems, officials who tamper with water testing and more.
Lead in the water systems of Rome is also thought to have contributed to the bizarre behavior of leaders by some I believe.

LovingA2andMI

(7,006 posts)

16. The Interview YOU MUST LISTEN TO....

Reply to appalachiablue (Original post)

Wed Dec 16, 2015, 01:57 AM

Dec 2015

To Really Learn The Depths and Cover Up on Flint's Water Crisis. #Listen and #Share Widely This Interview:

Guest: Curt Guyette - Michigan ACLU Flint, MI Toxic Water Investigation -IURL 10.15.15

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