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Treatment needed

To the Journal editor:

There is a wide range of issues being debated in public media about the Flint water crisis: Who is to blame, who should cover the immense costs, how long did those in charge cover-up their knowledge of the problem, and now even what to do with all the water bottles?

I have not seen discussed publicly what should be the most critically important issue of all: Treatment of the victims to reduce lead concentrations in their bodies.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but this is what I understand about lead (and other metallic neurotoxins) in the human body. Our bodies do not reduce concentrations significantly without treatment. Every day that passes without treatment increases the risk of damage to the nervous system.

Chelation therapy works to reduce concentrations of heavy metals in blood (there may be other such approved therapies of which I am not aware).

Flint is a city with a high population of poor people. Affluent people (or their health insurance) can afford something like chelation therapy; most poor people cannot. It seems to me that the state of Michigan is clearly liable for the costs of such treatment (based on state employees having known about the corrosive nature of the untreated Flint River water and its consequent lead ingestion by Flint residents going way back in time).

If my understanding about lead in human bodies is correct, then the moral lapse of not treating victims in a timely manner is as bad as that of the original switch-over and cover-up.

Obviously some fraction of Flint residents have been tested. Those showing dangerous levels should start treatment immediately. If the families cannot pay, then bill the state of Michigan.

Those who have not been tested, but reside in neighborhoods where some residents have high lead levels, should be tested (also at state of Michigan expense).

The politicians must not further delay critical treatment by debating who is to pay the bill. Just “get the lead out.”

Bob Railey

Marquette

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