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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule regulates the presence of lead in drinking water. Under the rule, if more than 10 percent of samples test above 15 parts per billion, the federal lead “action level” is exceeded. An “action level” exceedance triggers mandatory requirements that a water system must perform. For Newark, these requirements include water quality monitoring, corrosion control treatment, source water monitoring and treatment, public education, and lead service line replacement. Newark must treat its water to guard against corrosion (pipe erosion and damage) to minimize lead “leaching” (when lead is dissolved from pipes or fixtures and transfers into the water) or flaking of small lead particles from pipes or fixtures into tap water.

Vulnerability and resilience in this artifact are defined by the high concentration of child poverty in Essex County. They are measured using the Census from 2000 and 2015 which show how there is a trend in the percentage of children who expereince poverty within the county. Majority of the children living in poverty are currently living in heavilyu concentrated poverty neighborhoods like Newark, Irvington, and the Oranges. Although the affluent town of Milburn is nearby, it is unclear how these children continue to live below the poverty line in Newark even though the towns are only 6 miles apart. 

In order to allow jobs for Newark locals, a report from the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice called "Bridging the Two Americas: Employment and Economic Opportunity in Newark and Beyond" addresses the solutions for this problem.  They call for more monitoring and enforcement of local hiring requirements under the first source ordinance.

SNAP and WIC are two organizations helping low-income families.  30,000 Newark children are receiving SNAP benefits, and 12% of Newark residents are eligible for WIC.  SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and WIC is the Supplemental Nutrition Program Women, Infants, and Children.  Both organizations provide nutritious food to low-income families to prevent food insecurity.

The hazard in this artifact is in relation to the polluted water system throughout urban New Jersey areas. The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission and the D.E.P are working together to create new infrastructure upgrades to the local sewer systems. This long term plan will help limit the amount of toxic waste that runs off into the drinking water for surrounding urban communities. 

This bar graph shows that blacks have the lowest median household income out of all races.  This means that they are at most risk of hazards, they are most affected by poverty, with Hispanics being the second most affected.

This study is published the Environmental Health Perspectives.  The journal helps explain the continuity between human health and the environment.  They publish topics like toxicology, epidemiology, exposure science, and risk assessment.  The publication is ranked highly among professionals and has a rating of 8.44. 

Food stamp (SNAP) rolls increased over the years, and the article addresses that this is a sign of poverty.  The USDA is an agency that administers food stamps.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are two agencies that many low-income families are enrolled in.  WIC provides nutritious food for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to the age of five; it is specifically available for household up to 185 percent of the federal poverty lines.  SNAP provides low-income families with nutritious food.

The object of this study is to demonstrate with objective data that pollution in Newark is causing real damage. Especially for children, because they suffer from respiratory diseases such as asthma; which is more harmful to a developing organism like a child. It is important that we become aware that pollution damage is real, and that a part of the population that is really affected is the youngest.