This article was written by Tara E. Ness and Brianne H. Rowan, MPH in Global Health '16 alumnae, based on a policy brief they co-wrote in ENVH 511.
Recent events in Flint, Michigan underscore a devastating issue affecting children in the United States: lead poisoning. Screening and reporting of lead exposure in children is inadequate and many cases of lead poisoning go unnoticed until it is too late. Lead exposure in children has been repeatedly linked with irreversible behavioral problems and cognitive impairment. This can occur even at levels where other symptoms of lead poisoning, such as headache, abdominal pain and loss of appetite are not present. Thus, lead exposure screening and blood testing must be systematic, rather than awaiting clinical symptoms.
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