The new water supply was never properly certified as "safe" and proved to be extremely hazardous. Most prominently, lead levels in the water were way beyond safe levels. An internal memo from the EPA expressed concerns about the lead levels. And a team of Virginia Tech researchers found lead levels at 13,200 parts per billion (ppb). Fifteen ppb is the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) limit for lead in drinking water and 5,000 ppb is considered hazardous waste. The scale of the crisis was shown when GM stopped using Flint water because it was "corroding the engine".
Lead is a powerful neurotoxin that blocks the connections between brain neurons. High doses of Led made people sick and caused skin rashes, hair loss, and itchy skin. Additionally, according to WHO, high lead levels can cause “learning disabilities, behavioral problems and mental retardation”. A month after the water switch, a study from the local Hurley Medical Center found that 2.1 percent of children age 5 and under had elevated blood lead levels prior to the switch to Flint River water, compared to 4.0 percent after the switch.
Additionally, E. coli and total coliform bacteria were detected in the water. The presence of E. coli indicates the water contaminated with feces from infected humans or animals. Types of E. coli can cause a range of illnesses including diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness, and pneumonia.
Furthermore, Two outbreaks of Legionnaires' Disease—a severe form of pneumonia—believed to have been caused by the bacteria in the water killed 12 and sickened 90 people.
The water also contained levels of total trihalomethanes (TTHM) found to violate the Safe Drinking Water Act. TTHMs are disinfection byproducts that occur when chlorine interacts with organic matter in the water and some types are possible carcinogens—cancer-causing.
Finally, the water was 70 percent harder than the previous water supply. Hardness refers to the concentration of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals present in water. There are no serious adverse health effects of hard water but it can contribute to dry skin and hair and change the pH balance of your skin.
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