The Flint Michigan Water Crisis is a major disaster. The lead in the water caused health issues among the people living there and prompted an investigation into what caused the lead levels to rise, and who or what was at fault. This is an example of Risks and Hazards, as the Risk was the changing of water and the Hazard was the contaminated drinking water.
Key: Flint homes with more than 15 Parts per billion of lead (ppb) (2/1/16)
This image shows how many homes that were tested positive for high levels of lead. 363 residential locations that were tested had more than 15 ppb (parts per billion) of lead. Tests were from Sept. 2015 until the end of Jan. 2016. Allen/Detroit Free Press, R. (2016, February …show more content…
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Lead is very bad for your body, as it has a variety of effects on the body. The blood first absorbs it where it inhibits the function of the body. Experts say no level is safe for kids. Lead can also damage the brain. IQ and ability to pay attention are affected. Another effect lead can have on the body is that it can accumulate and remain in bones and organs years after exposure. Finally, if your diet is lacking calcium or iron the body may mix up lead with those nutrients, so having a healthy diet does help.
Officials not responding to crisis The officials held accountable did not do anything until September of 2015 after a report came out about the lead found in children under the age of 5 had doubled since the switch of water was made. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha stated, “it had to take evidence that children were being poisoned for people to listen, and that’s too late” (Sanburn, 2016, p. 35). Finally after months of outcry from Flint residents, Flint decides to switch back to the Detroit water system on October 16, 2015.
Environmental