UNLEADED: MONTANA’S SILENT EPIDEMIC

Author

Erica ZurekFollow

Year of Award

2022

Document Type

Professional Paper

Degree Type

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Name

Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism

Department or School/College

Journalism

Committee Chair

Jule Banville

Committee Co-chair

Joe Eaton

Commitee Members

Curtis Noonan, Corin Cates-Carney

Keywords

Journalism, Lead Exposure, Montana, Health, Environmental Health

Subject Categories

Environmental Health

Abstract

Lead is a cumulative toxin that can affect multiple systems in the human body. Exposure occurs through various sources, such as outdated and deteriorating infrastructure, paint, soil and drinking water. This project, a three-part audio series on lead exposure in Montana highlights various paths of exposure and how young children under age six years of age are particularly vulnerable. Part one is a story about a new state requirement to test all k-12 schools for lead in water fixtures. Part two: A house remodel exposes a family’s children to lead. Getting a diagnosis wasn’t easy. Part three: A look at how Montanans have experienced decades of exposure to toxic lead and what the state and one local health department is doing about it.

Recommended Citation

Zurek, Erica, "UNLEADED: MONTANA’S SILENT EPIDEMIC" (2022). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 11880.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/11880