Lead Exposure Rates in Oakland's Fruitvale Neighborhood Exceed Those in Flint

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Mina Kim

Jan 4, 2017 at

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(Photo: Getty Images)

Almost 3,000 communities across the nation have higher lead poisoning rates than Flint, Michigan, according to a recent Reuters investigation. Among these lead hotspots is Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood, where more than seven percent of children have unhealthy blood lead levels caused by exposure to contaminated paint and soil. Flint, Michigan gained worldwide attention in 2015 when city officials told residents to stop using tap water because of lead contamination. In this hour we discuss the Reuters investigation, the dangers posed by lead, who’s most at risk, and how to prevent harmful exposure.

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Guests:

Michael Pell, data journalist, Reuters

Timur Durrani, principal investigator and co-director of the Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, UCSF

Julie Kurko, health services manager, Alameda County Healthy Homes Department

David Rosner, professor, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University; co-author, "Lead Wars: The Politics of Science and the Fate of America's Children"

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