The darkest city in the United States faces a nightmare of environmental justice
The darkest city in the United States faces a nightmare of environmental justice
By Bryce Reyes
According to a 2017 study, the lead emitting facilities in Detroit are disproportionately located or move around in black neighborhoods. Even after these facilities are closed, lead left in the ground remains dangerous. It is especially harmful for children, who may experience behavioral and learning problems, lower IQ, hyperactivity and stunted growth if they carry even low lead levels in their blood. Traces of lead contamination in young Detroit children increased 28 percent in 2016 from the previous year, not just due to increased testing, said Lyke Thompson, director of the Center for Urban Studies at Wayne State University. Experts say lead in dust, paint and soil are little-studied culprits. In 2019, 500 “hydration stations” had to be installed in public schools in Detroit so that students could access water free of lead, copper and other contaminants.