Are Flint Skin Rashes Linked To DBPs?

A new study supports the idea that the water in Flint, MI, has acceptable levels of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) despite concerns about skin rashes.

The study published this month in The Journal of Environmental Sciences included work by researcher Marc Edwards of Virginia Tech, who played an instrumental role in uncovering and publicizing the lead contamination crisis in Flint.

“Although lead levels are now closer to normal, reports of skin rashes have sparked questions surrounding tap water in some Flint homes. This study investigated the presence of contaminants, including disinfection byproducts (DBPs), in the hot tap water used for showering in the homes of residents in Flint,” the study explained.

The researchers sought to figure out where the skin rashes came from. They studied hot and cold tap water in Flint, checking for 61 regulated and unregulated DBPs and 50 volatile organic compounds. The study compared these findings to levels in three other cities. The comparisons included Detroit and two cities in Georgia, Michigan Live reported.

“Results showed that hot water samples generally contained elevated levels of regulated and priority unregulated DBPs compared to cold water samples, but trihalomethanes were still within regulatory limits,” the study said.

“Overall, hot shower water from Flint was similar to waters sampled from the three other cities and did not have unusually high levels of DBPs or other organic chemicals that could be responsible for the skin rashes observed by residents,” it continued.

The study did contain a clue on what may be causing the skin rashes.

“It is possible that an inorganic chemical or microbial contaminant may be responsible,” it said

Flint resident Sincere Smith appeared on the cover of Time at age 2 after he suffered rashes.

Smith “looks twice his age. That's because of the steroids prescribed to treat his rashes, which appear on his face and entire body,” Time reported.