In the penultimate episode of Michigan Voices Season Two, Julia Peck and Noah Pinter explore a research project predicting lead contamination in water sources across the state of Michigan and discuss legislation handling lead testing in Michigan, as well as the entire United States.
What you’ll hear in this episode
- Lead contaminants are a known carcinogen that are especially harmful to children, affecting brain development and causing a myriad of other health problems.
- There are currently no laws requiring lead testing in Michigan schools. Of the 43% of schools that tested for lead nationally, 37% found lead in their water supplies. Legislation protecting our nation’s children must be demanded.
- Replacing lead pipes in buildings is an extremely expensive process, resulting in a push to “sweep this issue under the rug” by simply not testing for lead.
- Newly installed pipes could be up to 8% lead until 2014.
Credits
- Interviewee:
- Connor Jenkins, Biology, Health, and Society B.S.
University of Michigan Class of 2021
- Audio Clips /Music:
- “Faucet” – FillSoko (www.freesound.org)
- “Flint children demand clean water, share effects of water crisis through protest” | MLive (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R65CK6CsA8E)
- Testimonials by Tiara Dansaw, Broghan MacIntyre, and Keishaun Wade
- “Sloppy Clav” – Godmode (www.studio.youtube.com)
- “No. 2 Remembering Her” – Esther Abrami (www.youtube.com)
Episode Notes
Acknowledgements: Julia and Noah wish to thank their podcasting professor, T Hetzel, and their podcasting classmates for a wonderful semester! Additionally, many thanks to Connor Jenkins for being an excellent guest, as well as Eric Johnson for sitting down for an interview that ultimately did not make the final cut.
Producers
Julia Peck
Julia Peck is a graduating senior at the University of Michigan studying Sport Management and Digital Studies.
Noah Pinter
Noah Pinter is a graduating senior at the University of Michigan pursuing a Bachelor of Science in computer science.
