Why Jones Day Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Tuskegee of Pb “I understand that it is very important not to cause a panic. Yet clear and effective communication and widespread testing will ensure there is not a second crisis in Asheville and Buncombe county.”

Asheville restores drinking water 53 days after Hurricane Helene – but not all are ready to sip

In a open letter to public officials, Sally A Wasileski Schmeltzer, a professor at the University of North Carolina Asheville, urged further investigation and communication educating the general public about the risk of lead poisoning. Schmeltzer chairs the school’s chemistry department and specializes in environmental research.

Among her recommendations: widespread testing for lead and copper for buildings built before 1988, when lead was commonly used. She also advocated for blood tests for people who consumed the water – even after boiling – and especially for infants, other children, and pregnant or nursing people. Free testing is available, but she noted that homeowners need to understand when and how to test their water and themselves.

“[P]otential damage to private plumbing could be much more widespread than just to those schools that were tested,” Schmeltzer wrote. “I understand that it is very important not to cause a panic. Yet clear and effective communication and widespread testing will ensure there is not a second crisis in Asheville and Buncombe county.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/22/asheville-drinking-water-hurricane-helene