RAPID RESPONSE TO CONTAMINANTS IN FLINT DRINKING WATER

 描述(由申请人提供)：这项拨款申请的总体目标是评估密歇根州弗林特市政供水系统在因饮用水来源和处理方式的变化而造成的不可预见的水危机期间可能暴露于有毒污染物的情况。供水系统中存在的铅(铅)和消毒副产品暴露(DBP)仍然是弱势人群的风险来源。随着水处理的变化，儿童血铅水平的升高也迅速增加。还观察到了超过美国环保局最大污染物水平的DBPs水平。虽然人们对受管制的DBPs了解很多，但对非管制的含氮DBPs(NDBPs)知之甚少。由于NDBP的癌症风险水平较高，美国环保局目前正在考虑对其进行监管。在整个供水系统中，高水平的二氯苯酚与极低水平的余氯同时存在。氯含量低的部分原因可能是系统内发生的激进腐蚀，可能会导致机会性管道病原体的生长和潜在的暴露。最后，由于政府官员一再保证否认与饮用水质量和安全有关的问题，居民和政府官员之间严重缺乏信任。迫切需要加强科学和风险信息的交流，这场灾难带来了 更有效地利用现代通信模式的机会(例如，Facebook等社交媒体)。通过这一观察弗林特水处理和分布变化的独特机会，这个跨学科团队将记录和描述潜在毒物的暴露情况，并加强对导致水质恶化的过程的科学理解。因此，项目组将：目标1--量化供水变化造成的余氯、二氯苯并苯和铅的浓度，并评估这些复杂的化学混合物的毒性；目标2--使用综合分析和建模方法确定通过弗林特饮用水系统接触有毒化学品的潜在风险；目标3--利用风险沟通原则，通过包括社交媒体在内的各种渠道，向自来水公司运营商、政府官员(市、州和联邦)、公共卫生机构和居民传达结果。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall goal of this grant application is to evaluate potential exposure to toxic pollutants in the municipal water distribution system in Flint Michigan during the unforeseen water crisis created by changes in the source and treatment of drinking water. Exposure to lead (Pb) and disinfection-by-products (DBPs) present in water distribution systems continues to be a source of risk to vulnerable populations. A rapid increase in elevated blood lead levels in children has followed the changes in water treatment. Levels of DBPs that exceed US EPA maximum contaminant levels have also been observed. While much is known about regulated DBPs, less is known about unregulated nitrogenous DBPs (NDBPs). The U.S. EPA is currently considering regulating NDBPs due to their enhanced cancer risk level. High levels of DBPs are paired with exceptionally low levels of chlorine residual found throughout the water distribution system. The low levels of chlorine are likely due, in part, to radical corrosion that has occurred within the system and may allow for the growth of and potential exposure to opportunistic plumbing pathogens. Finally, due to repeated assurances from government officials denying problems associated with drinking water quality and safety, there is a severe lack of trust between residents and government officials. Improved communication of scientific and risk information is critically needed and this disaster presents an opportunity to more effectively utilize modern modes of communication (e.g. social media such as Facebook). Through this unique opportunity to observe changes in water treatment and distribution in Flint, this transdisciplinary team will document and characterize exposure to potential toxicants as well as enhanced scientific understanding of the processes responsible for degraded water quality. Accordingly, the project team will: Aim 1 - quantify the concentrations of residual chlorine, DBPs and Pb that have resulted from the change in water supply and evaluate the toxicity of these complex chemical mixtures; Aim 2 - define potential exposure to toxic chemicals through Flint's drinking water system using a combined analytical and modeling approach Aim 3 - communicate results to water utility operators, government officials (city, state, and federal), public health agencies and residents using principles of risk communication through a variety of channels including social media.