Science & Nature

An Invisible Poison: Chicago Communities Push for More Action Around the City’s 400,000 Lead Lines

By Christiana Freitag, Sara Cooper and Frances Mack

Chicago has more lead service lines than any other city in the U.S. with more than 400,000 still active. Local officials are not moving fast enough to address the cascading disparities and environmental injustices, community advocates say. 

The Southeast Side, with its history as a former industrial corridor, is particularly vulnerable. Community advocates there are working to bring accessible and affordable lead test kits to the most vulnerable households and are pressuring the city to prioritize lead line replacements.

At the forefront of this effort, synthetic biology researchers are testing new ways to educate and empower Chicagoans about the lead crisis in their homes.

Lead is a neurotoxin that can cause a range of issues from behavioral problems to brain damage. It has been linked to lower IQ scores in children and developmental delays. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has previously asserted that there is no known safe level of lead in drinking water. 

Since this documentary’s filming, the city of Chicago has extended its deadline for replacing lead lines to up to 50 years.