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A Case Study of Environmental Injustice: The Failure in Flint

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  • Carla Campbell

    (Department of Public Health Sciences, Room 408, College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
    Native American Rights Fund, Boulder, CO, USA)

  • Rachael Greenberg

    (National Nurse-led Care Consortium (NNCC), Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA)

  • Deepa Mankikar

    (Research and Evaluation Group, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA)

  • Ronald D. Ross

    (Occupational and Environmental Medicine Consultant, Las Cruces, NM 88001, USA)

Abstract

The failure by the city of Flint, Michigan to properly treat its municipal water system after a change in the source of water, has resulted in elevated lead levels in the city’s water and an increase in city children’s blood lead levels. Lead exposure in young children can lead to decrements in intelligence, development, behavior, attention and other neurological functions. This lack of ability to provide safe drinking water represents a failure to protect the public’s health at various governmental levels. This article describes how the tragedy happened, how low-income and minority populations are at particularly high risk for lead exposure and environmental injustice, and ways that we can move forward to prevent childhood lead exposure and lead poisoning, as well as prevent future Flint-like exposure events from occurring. Control of the manufacture and use of toxic chemicals to prevent adverse exposure to these substances is also discussed. Environmental injustice occurred throughout the Flint water contamination incident and there are lessons we can all learn from this debacle to move forward in promoting environmental justice.

Suggested Citation

  • Carla Campbell & Rachael Greenberg & Deepa Mankikar & Ronald D. Ross, 2016. "A Case Study of Environmental Injustice: The Failure in Flint," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:10:p:951-:d:79123
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rosner, D. & Markowitz, G., 1985. "A 'gift of God'?: The public health controversy over leaded gasoline during the 1920s," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 75(4), pages 344-352.
    2. Hanna-Attisha, M. & LaChance, J. & Sadler, R.C. & Schnepp, A.C., 2016. "Elevated blood lead levels in children associated with the flint drinking water crisis: A spatial analysis of risk and public health response," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(2), pages 283-290.
    3. Campbell, C. & Gracely, E. & Pan, S. & Cummings, C. & Palermo, P. & Gould, G., 2013. "Public health and law collaboration: The Philadelphia lead court study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(7), pages 1271-1277.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jayajit Chakraborty & Timothy W. Collins & Sara E. Grineski, 2016. "Environmental Justice Research: Contemporary Issues and Emerging Topics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-5, November.
    2. Shauntice Allen & Michelle V. Fanucchi & Lisa C. McCormick & Kristina M. Zierold, 2019. "The Search for Environmental Justice: The Story of North Birmingham," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-13, June.
    3. Garett Sansom & Leslie Cizmas & Kathleen Aarvig & Benika Dixon & Katie R. Kirsch & Anjali Katare & Lindsay Sansom, 2019. "Vulnerable Populations Exposed to Lead-Contaminated Drinking Water within Houston Ship Channel Communities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-8, August.

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