Achi news desk-
A new study published Monday revealed how children in Chicago are exposed to the toxic brain-damaging metal lead that could cause other developmental problems in children.
The research published on Monday is JAMA Pediatrics He revealed that in the eight-year study, a team from John Hopkins University conducted home tests in the area involving 38,000 people.
They revealed that the domestic water in 75% of houses is contaminated with a brain-damaging metal.
The study also highlighted that 68% of children under the age of six are exposed to this toxic lead in the majority Black and Hispanic neighborhood.
The water system in Chicago is largely dominated by lead service lines, however, they were banned in 1986. According to an estimate from The Hill news report, there are an estimated 400,000 lead service lines in operation. Despite the refurbishment, less than 300 have been replaced since 2020.
Joe Biden’s administration has suggested replacing the lead service lines from the US. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also issued a ruling in November encouraging the replacement of the lines within the one-year timeline.
Last year in July, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) suggested in their study about the contamination of “chemicals forever,” in almost every home in the country.
These substances – perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl chemicals called PFAS – are used in many household products such as cleaning, and non-stick pans, and their exposure can be harmful to people.
These substances are called forever chemicals because they are water resistant and can last in the human bloodstream for years.
