This Is Public Health Book Club discussion

1. How do "toxic stresses" impact children's development, and what role do they play in a child's ability to build resilience?

2. Why is lead in the water so harmful, and what makes it particularly dangerous for children?

3. How did the absence of corrosion control contribute to the lead contamination in Flint’s water supply?

4. What essential lessons did Dr. Mona learn from her grandfather, Haji, and how did these lessons influence her actions during the Flint water crisis?

I trust that you all are enjoying the book so far. Please feel free to comment your perspectives or what stood out to you while reading chapters 1-4.

Here are the responses to the questions above:

1. "Toxic stress" refers to the experience of adversity and hardship, such as poverty, violence, or neglect, that can have a lasting impact on a child's development, particularly during the critical early years. Toxic stressors can alter a child's neuroendocrine system, affecting brain development and the ability to form healthy neural connections. As a result, children exposed to these toxic stresses are more vulnerable to long-term health issues, mental health challenges, and developmental delays. However, Dr. Mona emphasizes that resilience is not something people are born with; it can be learned and cultivated, meaning that even children who face toxic stresses can overcome them if they have the right support systems, such as a caring community and nurturing relationships.

2. Lead is a potent neurotoxin. This means that lead affects the functioning of the brain and nervous system, particularly in young children. Exposure to lead can cause developmental delays, learning disabilities, behavioral issues, and long-term health problems. There is no safe level of lead exposure, making it even more concerning when lead-contaminated water flows into homes. Dr. Mona, as a pediatrician, understands the devastating impact of lead exposure on children's health. Despite government officials trying to downplay the crisis, she knew that the high levels of lead in Flint’s water were poisoning the children and needed to be addressed immediately.

3. Corrosion control is an important water treatment process that involves adding chemicals to the water to prevent it from corroding the pipes through which it flows. In Flint, when the city switched to the Flint River water, it was highly corrosive, and the lack of corrosion control meant that the water quickly began to strip away the protective mineral scale that had built up inside the city's aging lead pipes. As a result, lead from these pipes leached into the water, exposing residents, especially children, to dangerous levels of lead. The absence of this vital safety measure played a direct role in the water contamination that led to the crisis.

4. Haji, Dr. Mona’s grandfather believed that everyone deserved to be treated with respect and dignity, no matter their background or beliefs. He taught Mona that people could make the world a better place through kindness and justice. He also instilled in her the value of doing the right thing, even when it is difficult or unpopular. These lessons guided Dr. Mona as she took action to expose the truth about the water crisis in Flint. She was willing to fight against powerful forces, even at great personal risk, because she believed it was her moral duty to protect the children of Flint and ensure they had access to clean, safe water.

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! As we continue on to read chapters 5 - 10 of “What the eyes don’t see,” here are some questions to ponder on.

1)What symptoms did Walter’s home experience due to Flint’s contaminated water, and what initial responses did the family receive?

2)What key attributes did Dr. Hanna-Attisha, Elin, and other independent researchers display in seeking answers during Flint’s water crisis?

3)What did Dr. Hanna-Attisha’s research team find from their preliminary review of data from within their clinic, and what was the significance of this finding?

Hi Everyone. Happy Wednesday! Here are the responses to the discussion questions from chapters 5 - 10.

1)What symptoms did Walter’s home experience due to Flint’s contaminated water, and what initial responses did the family receive?
Lee Anne Walter’s three-year-old twins broke out in red bumps from bathing with contaminated water. Furthermore, the family experienced rashes, along with abdominal pain and hair loss. One of the twins was reported to experience growth issues. After Lee Anne attended a council meeting, a city employee was sent to test the water at her house. The test results showed an extremely high lead level, which was attributed to the Walters’ plumbing based on the notion that the city’s water lead levels test complied with set standards. However, the Walters installed new PVC plumbing before residing in the home and disagreed with the conclusion.

2)What key attributes did Dr. Hanna-Attisha, Elin, and other independent researchers display in seeking answers during Flint’s water crisis?
They showed resilience and persistence in advocating for the truth even in the face of existing restrictions. Their position demanded huge personal and emotional sacrifices. They also displayed professionalism by reviewing data and scientific evidence. They sought data-driven conclusions about the water condition in the Flint community. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha engaged people who were directly impacted, including her patients, colleagues, and those within the Flint community. As they asked pertinent questions and voiced their concern, Dr. Mona listened actively and supported members with encouraging words as she and her team continued to work towards obtaining answers.

3)What did Dr. Hanna-Attisha’s research team find from their preliminary review of data from within their clinic, and what was the significance of this finding?
In their preliminary study, Dr. Hanna-Attisha’s research team of residents and a data analyst observed a significant increase in the proportion of children who reported high lead levels after the water change than before, which pointed to the contaminated water. This observation was preliminary evidence that confirmed a link between the rise in lead poisoning and the water switch to Flint River in 2014, revealed the public health crisis in Flint, challenged the dissenting voices, and played a key role in bringing the issue to national attention. The team then initiated plans to access larger datasets to compare their initial observations.