A study reveals that two-thirds of children under the age of 6 in Chicago have been exposed to lead through their drinking water. The study also highlights the disproportionate exposure and testing rates among Black and Latino populations. The findings raise concerns about cognitive development deficits and other health hazards associated with increased blood lead levels in children.
A disturbing study finds two-thirds of children under the age of 6 are estimated to have been exposed to lead through their drinking water . The study also found that predominantly Black and Latino populations were disproportionately less likely to be tested for lead but also disproportionately exposed to contaminated drinking water .
The study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, found that 68% of children 6 and under in Chicago – a total of 129,000 – have been exposed to lead-contaminated drinking water. The study also found that 19% of those children use unfiltered tap water as their primary source of drinking water. Investigators used a retrospective assessment of lead exposure based on 38,385 household lead tests collected from January 2016 until September 2023. The information was publicly available from Department of Water Management records. The study said machine learning and microsimulation were used to estimate childhood lead exposure citywide. The study defined water to be contaminated if most of the tests within a census block had 1 part per billion or more lead concentration on the second draw. This value was chosen because no amount of lead in drinking water at all is considered safe and because one ppb is the limit for detection in lead water tests. The study warned that increased blood lead levels in children can cause cognitive development deficits and other health hazards
Chicago Lead Exposure Drinking Water Children Study Cognitive Development Health Hazards
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Two-thirds of Chicago kids under 6 exposed to lead in water, study estimatesThe report says much housing infrastructure was built before the use of new lead pipes was banned in 1986. Lead can affect intelligence, behavior and learning, experts say.
Read more »
Two-thirds of women professionals think they're unfairly paid, study findsThe gap between what women and men earn for doing the same work has barely budged in 20 years.
Read more »
Study Shows Two-Thirds Of U.S. Drivers Are Scared Of Self-Driving CarsWhile plenty of people are fearful of self-driving vehicles, many are supportive of driver assistance systems
Read more »
How Fillmore lost two-thirds of Black populationThese maps track The City’s dwindling African American community across decades
Read more »
Podcast: Two-thirds majority votes key for Medicaid expansion, restoring initiativeMississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison and Taylor Vance talk with Jackson attorney Rob McDuff about lawsuits involving legislative redistricting and school funding and how newspaper articles led an inquisitive 12-year-old in Hattiesburg to pursue a legal career focusing on civil rights and other social justice issues.
Read more »
Chicago confirms two cases of measles after city resident and migrant child diagnosedDaniella Silva is a reporter for NBC News, focusing on education and how laws, policies and practices affect students and teachers. She also writes about immigration.
Read more »