Lead

A districtwide effort to remove fences with lead paint on them is underway in the St. Louis Public Schools district.

The state will get $106.4 million for water infrastructure upgrades through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Midwestern states, including Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska, exceed the national average of detectable levels of lead in the blood of children. The Environmental Protection Agency released a new plan to reduce lead exposure.

A company called Nexgen Silica hopes to build a mine in St. Genevieve County. Residents who live with the toxic legacy of lead mining worry history could be repeating itself.

Efforts to eliminate lead in school drinking water got a huge boost on Friday, as Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed off on legislation requiring testing and also gave his approval to $27 million in federal funds to help schools install filters.

Water utilities have never been required to thoroughly inventory lead pipes except in a crisis. Health experts warn problems with these “underground poisonous straws” can arise out of the blue.

The lead industry characterized lead poisoning as a problem of poor people and minorities to protect its sales during the 20th century.

A provision that would limit the amount of lead allowed in school drinking water to five parts per billion has been tacked onto an education bill.

Missouri would stand apart from Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska by requiring testing and remediation.

President Joe Biden has proposed additional money for superfund cleanups, which could speed progress at contaminated sites.