Mona Hanna-Attisha1, Jenny LaChance1, Richard Casey Sadler1, Allison Champney Schnepp1. 1. Mona Hanna-Attisha and Allison Champney Schnepp are with Hurley Children's Hospital/Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Flint, MI. Jenny LaChance is with Hurley Medical Center Research, Flint. Richard Casey Sadler is with Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Division of Public Health, Flint.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We analyzed differences in pediatric elevated blood lead level incidence before and after Flint, Michigan, introduced a more corrosive water source into an aging water system without adequate corrosion control. METHODS: We reviewed blood lead levels for children younger than 5 years before (2013) and after (2015) water source change in Greater Flint, Michigan. We assessed the percentage of elevated blood lead levels in both time periods, and identified geographical locations through spatial analysis. RESULTS: Incidence of elevated blood lead levels increased from 2.4% to 4.9% (P < .05) after water source change, and neighborhoods with the highest water lead levels experienced a 6.6% increase. No significant change was seen outside the city. Geospatial analysis identified disadvantaged neighborhoods as having the greatest elevated blood lead level increases and informed response prioritization during the now-declared public health emergency. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of children with elevated blood lead levels increased after water source change, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Water is a growing source of childhood lead exposure because of aging infrastructure.
OBJECTIVES: We analyzed differences in pediatric elevated blood lead level incidence before and after Flint, Michigan, introduced a more corrosive water source into an aging water system without adequate corrosion control. METHODS: We reviewed blood lead levels for children younger than 5 years before (2013) and after (2015) water source change in Greater Flint, Michigan. We assessed the percentage of elevated blood lead levels in both time periods, and identified geographical locations through spatial analysis. RESULTS: Incidence of elevated blood lead levels increased from 2.4% to 4.9% (P < .05) after water source change, and neighborhoods with the highest water lead levels experienced a 6.6% increase. No significant change was seen outside the city. Geospatial analysis identified disadvantaged neighborhoods as having the greatest elevated blood lead level increases and informed response prioritization during the now-declared public health emergency. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of children with elevated blood lead levels increased after water source change, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Water is a growing source of childhood lead exposure because of aging infrastructure.
Authors: K Schwarz; Steward T A Pickett; Richard G Lathrop; Kathleen C Weathers; Richard V Pouyat; Mary L Cadenasso Journal: Environ Pollut Date: 2012-01-11 Impact factor: 8.071
Authors: Marie Lynn Miranda; Dohyeong Kim; Andrew P Hull; Christopher J Paul; M Alicia Overstreet Galeano Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2006-11-07 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: Philip J Landrigan; Clyde B Schechter; Jeffrey M Lipton; Marianne C Fahs; Joel Schwartz Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2002-07 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: Arko Sen; Nicole Heredia; Marie-Claude Senut; Susan Land; Kurt Hollocher; Xiangyi Lu; Mary O Dereski; Douglas M Ruden Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2015-09-29 Impact factor: 4.996
Authors: Perri Zeitz Ruckart; Adrienne S Ettinger; Mona Hanna-Attisha; Nicole Jones; Stephanie I Davis; Patrick N Breysse Journal: J Public Health Manag Pract Date: 2019 Jan/Feb
Authors: Xin Wang; Bhramar Mukherjee; Stuart Batterman; Siobán D Harlow; Sung Kyun Park Journal: Int J Hyg Environ Health Date: 2019-05-15 Impact factor: 5.840
Authors: Shahir Masri; Alana LeBrón; Michael Logue; Enrique Valencia; Abel Ruiz; Abigail Reyes; Jean M Lawrence; Jun Wu Journal: Sci Total Environ Date: 2020-07-06 Impact factor: 7.963
Authors: Carolyn J Brooks; Steven L Gortmaker; Michael W Long; Angie L Cradock; Erica L Kenney Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2017-07-20 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Richard C Sadler; Christopher Hippensteel; Victoria Nelson; Ella Greene-Moton; C Debra Furr-Holden Journal: Soc Sci Med Date: 2018-07-19 Impact factor: 4.634