Over the past several years we have learned that the soil and even the drinking water in some cities throughout the United States are contaminated with high levels of lead. Lead, much like asbestos, occurs naturally in the earth, but problems start to occur when there is overexposure to lead and the effects are especially pronounced in young children (https://www.epa.gov/lead/learn-about-lead). Lead can cause very serious health and developmental issues and recently the threshold for lead levels in blood were lowered which according to the EPA means that now people will be able to detect problems and begin abatement efforts earlier. Below are a few links to stories about how exposure to lead in soil and water has impacted the growth and development of children in affected areas.
Flint, MI – http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/31/health/iyw-flint-water-crisis-two-years-later/
Los Angeles, CA – http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-lead-la/
East Chicago, IN – https://thinkprogress.org/40-years-in-the-dark-public-housing-residents-have-been-living-on-toxic-soil-for-decades-4c6c3927edba
Hopefully we can learn from places like these and be proactive in lead testing and monitoring so that further issues can be prevented. In the meantime lead remediation is the only way to make these areas safe again.
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