Lead Poisoning

Letters, which should arrive in early November, are the first steps the city is taking to comply with new federal requirements to replace all lead service lines in 10 years.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced drinking water providers will have 10 years to identify and remove lead pipes across the country.

The statewide effort to clean up drinking water was prompted by a 2022 Missouri law, and more than $27 million has been set aside to fix the problems.

The parent company for Doe Run cut at $50,000 check to a PAC supporting Andrew Bailey three months after he filed a brief in support of the lead smelter in federal court.

Midwestern states, including Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska, exceed the national average of detectable levels of lead in the blood of children. The Environmental Protection Agency released a new plan to reduce lead exposure.

A company called Nexgen Silica hopes to build a mine in St. Genevieve County. Residents who live with the toxic legacy of lead mining worry history could be repeating itself.

Reporter Allison Kite updates "St. Louis On The Air" about an ongoing investigation into the causes and risks of high lead levels in the Midwest.

Efforts to eliminate lead in school drinking water got a huge boost on Friday, as Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed off on legislation requiring testing and also gave his approval to $27 million in federal funds to help schools install filters.

Water utilities have never been required to thoroughly inventory lead pipes except in a crisis. Health experts warn problems with these “underground poisonous straws” can arise out of the blue.

The lead industry characterized lead poisoning as a problem of poor people and minorities to protect its sales during the 20th century.