Past lead exposure in the United States caused 250,000 premature deaths from cardiovascular disease, what does this mean for Flint?

Pete Souza [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The article states:

Previous estimates, which assumed that low-level lead exposure did not increase the risk of premature death, produced substantially fewer deaths. However, this new study finds that low-level lead exposure (between 1-5 micrograms of lead per decilitre of blood) increases the risk of premature death, especially from cardiovascular disease.

Overall, people who had high lead levels (6.7 µg/dL) were at 37% greater risk of premature death from any cause, 70% times greater risk of cardiovascular death, and double the risk of death from ischemic heart disease, compared with people with lower levels (1 µg/dL).

And not only does lead poisoning result in a much greater risk of premature death (particularly cardiovascular death), but it also is responsible for lowering IQ and for triggering brain development problemsthat result in a tendency toward violent crime. In other words all of the main problems society associates with the "ghetto" can be explained at least in hypothesis to be caused by "neural toxicity" and "heavy metal poisoning". Lead is the most obvious culprit as it used to be in car fumes in most big cities in the 1980s. Lead also was in paint in the 1970s until it was eventually removed sometime between the 1970s-1990s. Now in Flint we have the crisis where lead was in the drinking water.

How many people could have been destroyed by this lead poisoning? Why did the government allow this to happen? How can we be sure the tap water is safe to drink in other cities across the country where people are poor or where it's considered "the hood"? What about the imported toys from China which were found to contain heavy metals?

References

The Lancet. (2018, March 12). Historical lead exposure may be linked to 256,000 premature deaths from cardiovascular disease in adults in United States each year. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 24, 2018 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180312201739.htm

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, 106(2), 283-290.

Baum, R., Bartram, J., & Hrudey, S. (2016). The Flint water crisis confirms that US drinking water needs improved risk management.

Becker, M., Edwards, S., & Massey, R. I. (2010). Toxic chemicals in toys and children’s products: limitations of current responses and recommendations for government and industry.