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Flint Families To Receive Guidelines On Lead Exposure

FLINT, Mich. (WWJ/AP) - Health officials have established guidelines for families on how they should respond to ongoing problems with the municipal water supply in Flint.

The Genesee County Health Department and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services plan to send letters to parents this week with information regarding lead testing and how to reduce lead exposure after elevated blood lead levels were found in some Flint children.

Children can be exposed to lead from drinking water in lead pipes, old lead paint, soil, pottery, cosmetics, toys, some home remedies and adult jobs or hobbies, including auto repair, stained glass and jewelry making.

In October it was determined that the public health emergency brought on by Flint's lead-tainted water supply happened because of lax state oversight, lack of follow up, and outright manipulated data, according to Mark Edwards.

Edwards, a Virginia Tech professor who oversaw research on the lead in Flint's drinking water, told Zahra Huber at WWJ 950 the dangerous water situation has been going on ever since the city made the switch from Detroit's water supply to Flint River water in April 2014. It was a cost-cutting measure.

And it backfired.

The departments are now recommending children between the ages of 1 and 2 undergo lead testing during routine doctor visits.

They also suggest using filtered water for drinking, cooking and washing fruits.
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