United States: State of Michigan condemned in Flint polluted water case

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2 min

American justice has ruled. The State of Michigan will have to pay 600 million dollars in compensation to the thousands of residents of the town of Flint, victims of lead contamination in drinking water that killed 12 people and sickened 25,000 others. This health scandal caused a stir when it occurred several years ago.

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The case dates back to 2014. The city of Flint, in great financial difficulty, decides to change the source of its drinking water to save money. This water, poorly filtered, will pass through old pipes which fill the tap water with lead .

The water takes on a metallic taste and turns brown. People are getting sick. Children especially and the most disadvantaged. They have headaches, digestive problems, itching, some even lose their hair.

Tests show that the level of lead in their blood has doubled from 2.4% to almost 5%.

Thousands of residents of Flint then took legal action in the state of Michigan . They have finally won their case.

According to the judgment, 80% of the $ 600 million would go to residents who were under 18 between April 2014 and July 2016. That is between 7,500 and 20,000 young people. About 25,000 people have been infected in this city of nearly 100,000 inhabitants.

Today, the city is supplied with water from Detroit and its lead level has stabilized. But in Flint, people are suspicious. They prefer to quench their thirst and cook in mineral water.

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• United States
• Water
• Justice

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