Justice
Flint Isn't the Only Michigan Town That Should Be Worried About Lead
A new map reveals elevated lead levels across the state—though paint, not water, is the culprit.
The contaminated water crisis wreaking havoc on Flint, Michigan, is easily one of the worst public health and environmental disasters in recent memory. It’s been the subject of widespread public outcry, calls for Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s resignation, and a federal investigation.
But while Flint is clearly an extreme case, it is by no means alone in exposing its residents to dangerous levels of lead. Many other Michigan cities also show signs of elevated lead exposure in children—although in these cases, the problem doesn’t come from water but from exposure to lead paint in old houses.