Doctor Who Helped Expose Flint's Water Crisis Looks For Solutions

While state agencies in Michigan long denied claims that the water in Flint was not safe to drink, several researchers and activists are credited with exposing the problem, including Flint pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, who presented her work in September to skeptical officials.

Flint water became contaminated with lead as a result of a decision to switch the city’s water source and not treat that water with an anti-corrosive. The water corroded the pipes and fixtures, causing lead to dissolve into the water. Even after switching back to the original water source, the water remains unsafe to drink.

Now, Dr. Hanna-Attisha is helping residents understand the problems of lead poisoning and is working to create programs for those already seeing its effects. She speaks with Here & Now‘s Robin Young about her view of the crisis and what she thinks needs to be done now.

Guest

• Mona Hanna-Attisha, M.D., director of the pediatric residency program at the Hurley Medical Center, a public hospital in Flint. She tweets @MonaHannaA.

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