A new study revealed unsafe lead levels in the tap water of Watts, a Los Angeles neighborhood long plagued by environmental racism, particularly in public housing areas.
Maanvi Singh reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Researchers discovered lead levels in Watts’ tap water exceeding U.S. Environmental Protection Agency limits, with some samples from public housing showing the highest concentrations.
- The study was community-led, with local leaders collecting water samples after years of neglect from authorities.
- The Watts area faces multiple sources of lead contamination, including soil, dust and deteriorating infrastructure.
Key quote:
"The reality of the situation is that no amount of lead is safe for the human body."
— Danielle Hoague, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Why this matters:
Lead exposure can cause severe health problems, especially in children and pregnant women. The ongoing contamination in Watts reflects broader issues of environmental injustice and neglect.
