Chicago Newsroom

Published on Feb 23, 2017

Ken Davis is joined by City Bureau’s Darryl Holliday and Nissa Rhee, to discuss their recent suite of stories in the South Side Weekly called “Living with Lead.” In 2015, there were 80,000 children in the United States with elevated lead levels in the blood, they report, and while many major sources of lead contamination have been reduced, it’s still a serious problem for many Chicagoans. They discuss the problem of lead water pipes that still serve nearly 80% of Chicago homes, usually running between the City water main and the water meter in most basements. Replacement of the lines is costly and disruptive, but the City is providing free lead test kits, and there is an early intervention program to test and, if necessary, treat infants who have been affected by lead. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).