Lead Poisoning

A worker waters a property in the Omaha Lead Superfund Site that's been remediated for high levels of lead in the soil.

Kids in the Midwest will get more blood screenings under EPA plan to deal with lead threat

Samantha Horton

Midwestern states, including Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska, exceed the national average of detectable levels of lead in the blood of children. The Environmental Protection Agency released a new plan to reduce lead exposure.

Signs lining Highway 32 protest a proposed silica mine that would span 249 acres in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri. Locals worry about the mine’s health implications on the community and environment.

Fight over silica mining rekindles fears about Missouri’s Old Lead Belt

Niara Savage

A company called Nexgen Silica hopes to build a mine in St. Genevieve County. Residents who live with the toxic legacy of lead mining worry history could be repeating itself.

An individual holds a lead pipe, a steel pipe and a lead pipe treated with protective orthophosphate. The Environmental Protection Agency is only now requiring water systems to inventory their lead pipes decades after new ones were banned

Health, Science, Environment

Crumbling infrastructure leaks lead into Midwest water supply

Avery Lea Rogers

Reporter Allison Kite updates "St. Louis On The Air" about an ongoing investigation into the causes and risks of high lead levels in the Midwest.

State governments already have funds, provided by federal grants, for schools that voluntarily test their water.

Health, Science, Environment

Missouri governor signs bill requiring schools test, filter water for lead

Jason Hancock

Efforts to eliminate lead in school drinking water got a huge boost on Friday, as Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed off on legislation requiring testing and also gave his approval to $27 million in federal funds to help schools install filters.

Health, Science, Environment

'Time bomb' lead pipes are set to be removed. But water utilities have to find them first

Allison Kite

Water utilities have never been required to thoroughly inventory lead pipes except in a crisis. Health experts warn problems with these “underground poisonous straws” can arise out of the blue.

For years, the Lead Industries Association used strategic messaging about its products to dupe Americans about the health hazards of lead.

Health, Science, Environment

How the lead industry misled the public about its toxic problem for decades

Niara Savage

The lead industry characterized lead poisoning as a problem of poor people and minorities to protect its sales during the 20th century.

Lawmakers are close to requiring Missouri schools to test and filter water for lead

Allison Kite

A provision that would limit the amount of lead allowed in school drinking water to five parts per billion has been tacked onto an education bill.

The pandemic forced many large buildings to close, including theaters, schools and stadiums. Researchers warn that the stagnant water sitting in the pipes of these buildings may have accumulated pathogens and heavy metals.

Health, Science, Environment

Missouri Senate overwhelmingly approves bill requiring schools test, filter water for lead

Allison Kite

Missouri would stand apart from Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska by requiring testing and remediation.

Lisa Pascoe with her 2-year-old daughter Violet on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at their home Clarkson Valley, Mo.

Health, Science, Environment

Desde hace un siglo se sabe que el plomo es tóxico y sigue envenenando a miles de niños

Allison Kite

Dicen los investigadores que incluso una pequeña cantidad de la toxina puede dañar el desarrollo de los niños. Un estudio realizado en el año 2021 encontró que los niños en Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska y Missouri tenían una de las tasas más altas de los niveles elevados de plomo en la sangre.

Health, Science, Environment

Known to be toxic for a century, lead still poisons thousands of Midwestern kids

Niara Savage

Researchers say even a small amount of the toxin can harm kids’ development. One 2021 study found Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri had some of the highest rates of elevated blood lead levels in children.