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The #FlintWaterCrisis in Michigan has calmed down from when it first arose back in 2014, but the consequences that arose along with it continue to affect the residents of Flint, especially children (1/8) @39CSustain #39CSustain
The #FlintWaterCrisis began back in April 2014 after Flint switched from retrieving their water supply from Detroit's water system (due to high costs) to making their own getting water from the Flint River (2/8) https://www.nrdc.org/stories/flint-water-crisis-everything-you-need-know
After the new water supply was put in place, thousands of children were soon exposed to the lead-contaminated water and their blood-lead levels had risen from 2.1% to 4.0% (3/8)
"Lead is a potent neurotoxin which can cause memory loss, irreversible brain damage, impaired development, cognitive dysfunction, speech impediments and other serious chronic conditions, particularly in children." (4/8) https://www.washingtoninformer.com/remembering-the-flint-water-poisoning-on-earth-day/
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lead exposure can cause behavioral problems, which is proven by the high rates of students dropping out of school and possibly ending up in juvenile detention centers because of lead poisoning (5/8)
Some behavioral changes due to lead exposure include: shorter attention span, restlessness, conduct disorders, and aggression (6/8) https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/07/03/how-flint-water-crisis-set-back-thousands-students/
The effects of lead exposure are irreversible as lead soon spreads throughout the human body when exposed, but lead poisoning can be prevented (7/8)
Lead poisoning can be prevented if people know where lead comes from, the effects it can cause, and how to decrease lead exposure at home. For example, by consuming certain foods like specific vitamins can decrease the gastric absorption of lead (8/8)
