June 23, 2016
Dr. Jackie Taylor, co-PI of the Intergen Study, recently published in npj Genomic Medicine, calling for immediate action in the Flint lead poisoning crisis. Dr. Taylor explains that a child’s genetic makeup can make them more susceptible to lead toxicity and lead to detrimental outcomes, even when blood lead levels are below the current threshold for treatment of 5 ug/dl. She recommends a precision genetic testing approach that will identify those at risk for lead toxicity at a lower threshold of blood lead levels (<5ug/dl) and dictate prompt treatment for all children in Flint.