American children in more than 3,000 neighborhoods nationwide have experienced lead poisoning at rates double those recorded during the peak of Flint, Michigan's water contamination crisis, according to Reuters.
Here are five things to know.
1. To assess the burden of lead poisoning among U.S. children, Reuters investigators examined previously undisclosed neighborhood-level blood testing results compiled by the CDC and state health departments. Most of the data span a five- to 10-year period through 2015.
2. In 2014, the city of Flint changed its water source to the Flint River without taking proper precautions to protect against the corrosion of the city's aging lead pipe systems. The switch resulted in elevated levels of lead in the city's water supply. In 2015, 5 percent of children screened in Flint displayed high blood lead levels. The Reuters analysis identified 1,100 communities across the U.S. where children displayed high levels of lead in their blood at four times the rate of Flint children in 2015.
3. The investigation also revealed county maps previously created by states to assess the burden of lead poisoning among children were misleading.
"We found that those countywide maps not only didn't really show the problem areas, but they actually could provide a false sense of security," Michael Pell, a member of the Reuters investigative team, told Public Radio International. "[I]f you look at the entire county, [you might see] a small percentage of kids with high lead levels, but if you break that down by neighborhood level, what you could see is that there are some neighborhoods where a lot of kids are still testing very high for lead."
4. Like Flint, many communities identified in the analysis had an aging water infrastructure, in addition to crumbling lead paint in homes and residual industrial waste. In portions of Baltimore, Cleveland and Philadelphia, lead poisoning has been an issue for generations. In the last decade, 40 to 50 percent of children in these communities have experienced lead poisoning.
5. Any child displaying elevated levels of lead merits a public health response, as even a minor elevation can cause developmental issues, according to the CDC. Lead poisoning can result in damage to the brain and nervous, behavioral issues, problems with speech and hearing issues.
To read the full Reuters report, click here.
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