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Dr. Eden Wells (left) chief medical executive for the state, and Capt. Chris Kelenske, deputy state director of emergency management homeland security for the Michigan State Police.
(Emily Lawler | MLive.com)
LANSING, MI -- The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has identified 43 Flint residents with elevated blood lead levels following a water crisis in Flint, including 23 children younger than age 6.
Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive for the state, said those numbers are current through Dec. 18. Multiple hospitals, primary care physicians and health departments are testing children for elevated blood lead levels. The State Emergency Operations Center is recommending that all children younger than six get tested as soon as possible, either through their primary care physicians or the Genesee County Health Department.
For children with blood lead levels of more than 5 micrograms per deciliter, doctors or public health workers will work with families to limit lead exposure through measures like water filters.
Any child who tests 45 micrograms per deciliter or higher must be immediately treated at a poison center, Wells said. No children have tested at that level. One child with elevated levels was briefly hospitalized but a preliminary investigation shows that child's lead levels were likely not due to water exposure, Wells said.
The lead could have long-lasting effects on children.
"Do we know how many children will actually have a long-term effect from this exposure? We do not. We know though that we can decrease or mitigate this effect by intervening sooner," Wells said.
The 43 people who tested over 5 micrograms per deciliter included 23 children under age 6; seven children between ages 6 and 17; and 13 adults.
Emily Lawler is a Capitol reporter for MLive. You can reach her at elawler@mlive.com, subscribe to her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter: @emilyjanelawler.