paper
cherodjones
KEEPITHEALTHY.pptxFRAGILE AND VULNERABLE SETTINGS: Flint water crisis
Assurance
A core governmental function is to protect the public’s health. In the Flint water crisis, the primary problem was the lack of adequate cooperation among state, local, and city officials on the elevated water lead and blood lead levels from the Flint River water source
Public health should have a more significant role in preventing exposure to environmental health threats. Addressing the implementation failures should be a priority for avoiding future similar crises.
Assurance
Environmental agencies should not solely manage environmental health functions. Public health should focus on lead prevention efforts further upstream rather than waiting to respond once exposure has occurred.
As a result, the law should be structured so that environmental changes rather than children’s elevated blood lead levels instigate comprehensive public health interventions (such as tap water sampling in all affected homes).
Assurance
Public health agencies should recognize and weigh the risks of delaying action when making decisions. For example, the Local Health Department failed to declare an emergency in Flint immediately upon learning of the extent of the crisis, delaying the availability of needed resources and response efforts.
No agency took responsibility for investigating the numerous complaints from Flint residents about the water’s color and odor. To alleviate this issue the state must adopt a formal process for sharing information across agencies and improving communication channels.
Assurance
The viability of this line of effort is key to the sustainability of the initiatives imposed. An Approach that outlines short term and long term goals with time bench marks is a key for success
Short Term 1-3 years (immediate results)
utilizing the state, local, and city legislatures to change the law
utilizing the money awarded by the (epa) by upgrading the water infrastructure
Provide Clean Water (Bottled or Filtered)
provide Educational programs to flint residents
Long Term 3-5 Years (Sustained Results)
Lead Screening Programs
Work With FEMA and other Stakeholders for emergency Response training
REFERENCES
Butler, L. J., Scammell, M. K., & Benson, E. B. (2016). The Flint, Michigan, water crisis: a case study in regulatory failure and environmental injustice. Environmental Justice, 9(4), 93-97.
Campbell, C., Greenberg, R., Mankikar, D., Ross, R., & Campbell, C. (2016). A Case Study of Environmental Injustice: The Failure in Flint. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(10), 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13100951
Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from:https ://www.epa.gov
EPA’s fight against lead poisoning through the Lead Action Plan. https://www.epa.gov/leadactionplanimplementation
Environmental Protection Agency. (2004). Understanding the Safe Drinking Water Act. Retrieved From: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-04/documents/epa816f04030.pdf
Data USA retrieved from: https://datausa.io/profile/geo/flint-mi/
REFERENCES
EPA Awards $100 Million to Michigan for Flint Water Infrastructure Upgrades. (2017, March 17). Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-awards-100-million-michigan-flint-water-infrastructure-upgrades
Flint Water Crisis | Casper | NCEH | CDC. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/disaster/casper/pdf-html/flint_water_crisis_pdf.html
Flint Water Crisis Fast Facts. (2019, April 23). Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2016/03/04/us/flint-water-crisis-fast-facts/index.html
Flint Water Crisis: What's Being Done to Help Children Exposed to Lead. (2016, January 19). Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/Health/flint-water-crisis-children-exposed-lead/story?id=36376739
Hanna-Attisha, M., LaChance, J., Sadler, R. C., & Champney Schnepp, A. (2016). Elevated blood lead levels in children associated with the Flint drinking water crisis: a spatial analysis of risk and public health response. American journal of public health, RETRIEVED FROM: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2015.303003
Livengood, C., Carah, J., & Oosting, J. (2016, February 03). Snyder pitches $30 million for Flint water bill refunds. Retrieved from https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/02/03/snyder-water-bills/79753564/
Nukpezah, J. A. (2017) The Financial and Public Health Emergencies in Flint, Michigan: Crisis Management and the American Federalism. Retrieved From https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.ezproxy2.apus.edu/doi/10.1002/rhc3.12117
You are here MDHHS Inside MDHHS Newsroom. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-73970_71692-384491--,00.html
REFERENCES
Olson, T. M., Wax, M., Yonts, J., Heidecorn, K., Haig, S. J., Yeoman, D., ... & Ellis, B. R. (2017). Forensic estimates of lead release from lead service lines during the Water Crisis in Flint, Michigan. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 4(9), 356-361.
Ruckart, P. Z., Ettinger, A. S., Hanna-Attisha, M., Jones, N., Davis, S. I., & Breysse, P. N. (2019). The Flint Water Crisis: A Coordinated Public Health Emergency Response and Recovery Initiative. Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP, 25 Suppl 1, Lead Poisoning Prevention(Suppl 1 LEAD POISONING PREVENTION), S84–S90. doi:10.1097/PHH.0000000000000871
Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6309965/
Shelson, J. (2016). Lead in the water - the flint water crisis. Defense Counsel Journal, 83(4), 520-525. Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy2.apus.edu/docview/1878750116?accountid=8289
You are here MDHHS Inside MDHHS Newsroom. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-73970_71692-384491--,00.html
Zahran, S., Mcelmurry, S., & Sadler, R. (2017). Four phases of the Flint Water Crisis: Evidence from blood lead levels in children. Environmental Research, 157, 160–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.05.028
Michigan Department of Education. (2018) M-STEP Grades 3-8 and 11. Retrieved from https://www.michigan.gov/mde/o,4615,7-140-22709_70117_40135---,00.html
