Lead poisoning threatens Michigan kids

The mayor of Flint, Michigan, declared a state of emergency last week after elevated levels of lead were detected in the city’s drinking water. Experts say that young children are especially susceptible to even low levels of lead because their brains are still developing.

Ingesting the metal can lead to neurological problems in children, studies have shown. A recent report from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services(MDHHS) identified 27 children with blood lead levels greater than or equal to 5 micrograms per deciliter (an amount used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify levels “much higher than most children’s levels”) since Oct. 1.

Read more from Live Science.