Slusky told Rewire last week that he is pleased to see others examining the effects of the tainted water. “We are glad to see other researchers looking at this important issue and find it reassuring that their results are broadly consistent with ours despite using different methods,” he said.
“The stressors associated with being a Black resident in Flint were already at higher levels.”
The crisis began in April 2014 when Flint, then under a state-appointed emergency manager, switched its drinking water source from Lake Huron water treated by the Detroit water system to Flint River water treated at the Flint Water Treatment Plant. The required anti-corrosive treatments were not used to treat the Flint River water, leading the water to leach lead from pipes.
Flint switched back to the Detroit water system last October but the water distribution system was already damaged. Water bills in Flint remain the highest in the country, many remain without clean drinking water, some say the tainted water is causing them to miscarry , and many feel public trust has been eroded in the city of about 100,000.
Researchers said they hope their work will refocus the lens on the huge crisis Flint is facing.
“Any light that can be shed on what a human tragedy it is and how we have not reacted swiftly or fast enough to the plight of Americans, and how dire the situation was and continues to be is, I think, important,” Adams said.
Rahi and Adams plan to revisit their study to compare results.
“We hope that these reports help policymakers make informed decisions about the consequences of their actions and helps spur future work and greater understanding of the effects of the Flint water change on the health of the citizens of Flint,” Slusky said.
“Some say the tainted water is causing them to miscarry.”
While official accounts point to lead levels decreasing in Flint since the city switched its water source back to Detroit water, now known as the Great Lakes Water Authority, the lead levels of children in Detroit are even higher than in Flint, according to the Detroit News. Blood lead levels are also elevated statewide.