We are gradually learning, much to our dismay, that the water crisis in Flint, Mich., is not an anomaly, not an aberration confined to one part of the nation. Nor is it just the contaminated water that we should be concerned about—something we New Yorkers know very well about from lead-filled paint chips.
Beyond the crisis in Flint, a recent report of routine laboratory tests of the water in a small town in Ohio showed unsafe levels of lead, mainly because of an inadequate supply of chemicals to keep water pipes from corroding.
Last summer, in Jackson, Miss., officials waited six months to disclose that the drinking water was contaminated, and according to the report, there are countless number of other cities facing the same danger.
What about the water here in New York City? Residents in our community depend on an unfiltered drinking water supply. While a multi-year study concluded that the quality of our water is very high, the study recommends that New York City’s Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products testing be resumed after it was suspended five years ago. The study also suggested the retrofitting of lead-soldered plumbing in households reporting lead exceedances.
There was a time when incidences of children being poisoned from contact with lead paint, primarily from peeling and chipped paint, were rampant. While there has been a steady decrease in children testing for positive for lead poisoning in the city since 2013, the problem is not a thing of the past, doctors contend. It remains a pressing problem today, and will be in the future, particularly in homes built before 1978 and in the thousands of NYCHA apartments.
The problem of lead poisoning is not only consigned to children. Many adults suffer from being in rooms or homes with a heavy presence of contaminated walls. Residents suffering from asthma are particularly at risk.
Experts say that, very often, children exposed to lead may not show some of the obvious symptoms. However, a change in behavior, rashes, slurred speech and poor performance in school may be indicators of a chemical affliction. Mold is another household danger that should be carefully monitored and eliminated.
Any evidence of these occurrences may require a child to be tested to determine the extent of possible lead poisoning. It’s always best to err on the side of caution.
The situation in Flint should be considered a wake-up call, making us mindful of the dangers that lurk in our homes, where we least expect them.