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ichigan Health Department Hid Evidence of Health Harm Due to Lead Contaminated Water: Allowed False Public Assurances by MDEQ and Stonewalled Outside Researchers 3 20 Siidhariha Ba Decemb ry Ariicles 5 After missing warning signs of spiking childhood lead poisoning that occurred a few months after switching to a corrosive river water source in 2014, outside pressure forced officials at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to closely scrutinize their data in July 2015. They discovered scientifically conclusive 1 xxxEND_PAGE:executiveofficeemails19_b095_264_277_01 evidence of an anomalous increase in childhood lead poisoning summer 2014 immediately after the switch in water sources, but stood by silently as MDEQ officials repeatedly and falsely stated that no spike in blood lead levels (BLL) of children had occurred. DHHS employees later stonewalled efforts by outside researchers who questioned MDEQs statements, withheld damning documents but released incomplete data suggesting that there were no problems—DHHS officials ultimately fessed up only after incidence of childhood lead poisoning skyrocketed above 10% in the two Flint zip codes with highest water lead risk during summer 2015! DHHS Pressured to Examine Data in mid-July 2016 DHHS’ engagement in the Flint water crisis, started in early 2015 with two phone calls from Lee-Anne Walters to a state lead poisoning nurse in Lansing identified only as “Karen.” When asked about the phone call last night, Walters said she was at first expressing concern over high water lead measurements in Flint, but on the second call she was in tears because her son’s blood lead had increased to 6.5 ug/dL. According to Walters, “Karen” stated that “He is barely lead poisoned. If CDC had not changed their lead poisoning standard from 10 down to 5, we would not be having this conversation.” Angry, Walters protested that Karen was minimizing the problem, at which point “Karen” cut her off and said “I am working with kids in their 4o’s and 50’s. It is just a few IQ points...it is not the end of the world.” FOIA e-mails demonstrate that Karen Lishinski (DHHS) acknowledged receiving phone calls on the dates Walters called (the caller’s name is redacted in the FOIA), but elsewhere Lishinski acknowledges to colleagues that the last time she actually worked with a child who had blood lead above 45 ug/dL was in 2009. The next time the Flint water issue was apparently raised at DHHS, was July 23", when Linda Dkykema (DCH) sent out an e-mail titled “R.E.Director’s Office Assignment- 2 xxxEND_PAGE:executiveofficeemails19_b095_264_277_02 Flint- need update ASAP” on the heels of the meme Misinformed from the Outset: MDEQ Garbage-in All but Ensures DHHS Garbage-out The Director’s Office update was tainted and probably doomed from the start, because Dykema logically reached out to MDEQ’s Steve Busch for background who provided her the following insights: “The city of Flint recently conducted drinking water testing throughout the city with special attention to those areas known to have old service lines. The city water supply is in compliance with the lead rule.... DEQ has not seen a change in the city’s compliance with the lead rule since switching to the Flint River source....Regarding the home with high drinking water lead levels: some years ago the supply line that serves the neighborhood was replaced, but somehow this house was not connected to the new line, such that the family’s drinking water supply was coming

| don't think that is necessary. | was just checking. Sent from my iPhone

Rich - Per our conversation. Dan/Beth - FY!

The process of distributing water filters began on site today in Flint from the supply purchased by MDHHS. 909 were distributed at MDHHS offices. 1,869 were distributed at the local Community Action Agency locations. 1,624 were distributed to the Flint Housing Commission for installation at low income housing. 186 to early head start, Mott Park Neighborhood Association and Commissioners. A total of 4,588 were distributed today. It was a good first day and shows our commitment to action. We will continue to provide updates on filters through Dan. Nick xxxEND_PAGE:executiveofficeemails20_b0320_1267_1267_1

Importance: High xxxEND_PAGE:dhhs02_b1279_4776_4778_2 004778 You will be receiving a meeting notice from Beth Emmitt for a meeting with the Governor this afternoon. Listed below are areas that we should provide him an update on engagement; if not yet engaged, then we need to engage asap. 1. Emergency management — similar to disasters, is there some form of action we can engage for this situation to help manage 2. Chief Medical officer — should be speaking with Hurley 3. WIC-re water and formula — status update 4. Drain commissioner — how do we expedite KWA Looking at a 1 pm meeting — let me know if you have questions on the above. Thanks ALS xxxEND_PAGE:dhhs02_b1279_4776_4778_3

Quick recap on the interactions this week from the MDHHS side on the Flint water issue. Today the City of Flint issued the attached “Lead Advisory” for residents to be aware of lead levels in drinking water and issued suggestions from the Genesee County Health Department as to what residents could do to reduce risk. These include: -- flushing cold-water pipes by running water for approximately 5 minutes, --using only water from the cold-water tap for drinking, cooking and making baby formula --installing a water filter that is NSF-certified for lead removal. We worked with the Genesee County Health Department throughout the week to get them in a more pro-active mode to provide this guidance publicly and to encourage citizens to have the City test their water if they were concerned about the quality of water at their home. The health department also issued this fact sheet ; on Thursday providing additional information on the issue. MDHHS epidemiologists continue to review the “data” provided by a Hurley hospital physician that showed an increase in lead activity following the change in water supply. While we continue to review this data, we have stated publicly that Hurley conducted their analysis in a much different way than we do at the department. Hurley used two partial years of data, MDHHS looked at five comprehensive years and saw no increase outside the normal seasonal increases. The Hurley review was also a much smaller sample than MDHHS data as ours includes all hospital systems in Flint as well as outside laboratories. We have also provide the attached data chart that outlines if the elevated blood lead levels were being driven by a change in water, we would have seen the elevated levels remain high after the change in water source. We have also communicated that for WIC beneficiaries in Flint with documentation of unsanitary water, they may be able to receive ready to feed formula and have encouraged families to contact WIC to see if they are eligible for this formula. SNAP beneficiaries are able to purchase bottled water with their SNAP funds. Talking points from MDHHS are attached as well. Thank you, G xxxEND_PAGE:deq24_b095_0257_0257_1

( think this information is very helpful. It will not answer the main question about the quality of the water (DEQ is working on that through Brad | believe), and the color and smell of the present water, but it does get us to the answers to the less subjective issues. Frankly, the only way the issues will be totally resolved is when the KWA comes on line and the water is perceived to be cleaner and healthier. | am somewhat surprised that the leadership in Flint has not responded better to the community questions, which don’t seem unreasonable at all. Seems like Harvey has a better network into some of the neighborhoods than the city does. The KWA PR department definitely needs to do some outreach or they're headed down the same road as DWSD. Do you know if they go out on a regular basis to the community and talk about the rates, costs, etc.?

Importance: High All, Attached is a memo and water rate summary answering several of the questions raised by the Flint pastors. Please let me know if you have any questions. Wayne Wayne L. Workman Deputy State Treasurer Michigan Department of Treasury xxxEND_PAGE:treasury01_b25_3630_3729_010