The health situation in Flint, Michigan (48502) is unfortunately quite dire. In the wake of the water crisis, which began in 2014, many Flint residents are facing a public health emergency. The city鈥檚 hospital and other medical facilities are overwhelmed by the influx of patients seeking care related to lead poisoning and other water-related illnesses. With the population of Flint being predominately African American, disparities in access to quality healthcare have become even more pronounced. These disparities add to an already challenging situation due to limited resources available in this economically disadvantaged community. Many local organizations have stepped up to provide free services and support for those affected by the crisis but more help is desperately needed as a number of families continue to suffer from poor health outcomes caused by contaminated drinking water.
The health of a city has many different factors. It can refer to air quality, water quality, risk of getting respiratory disease or cancer. The people you live around can also affect your health as some places have lower or higher rates of physical activity, increased alcohol intake, smoking, obesity, and cancer rates.
Physicians per Capita
There are Unlock physicians per 100,000 population in Flint (zip 48502). The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Flint (zip 48502) area is Unlock. The US average is 100.
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Flint (zip 48502) area is Unlock. The US average is 55.
Note that this is a measure of Watershed quality, not the water that comes from your faucet. The EPA has stated that a healthy watershed is closely related to drinking water quality. The EPA has a complex method of measuring watershed quality using 15 indicators such as pH, chemicals, metals, and bacteria.
Superfund Index
The annual BestPlaces Superfund Index for the Flint (zip 48502) area is Unlock. The US average is 87.
The EPA's Superfund program is responsible for cleaning up some of our nation's most contaminated land. Our index is based on the number of active Superfund sites (over 15,000 in the United States), with particular attention paid to those on the National Priorities List which pose the greatest health danger.
Quick Facts
Commuting can effect your health. The average person in Flint (zip 48502) commutes Unlock minutes one-way, which is shorter than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
Air Quality Index
The annual BestPlaces Air Quality Index for the Flint (zip 48502) area is Unlock. The US average is 58.
This is based on new measures of hazardous air pollutants from the EPA, called the National Air Toxics Assessment. This analysis models respiratory illness and cancer risk down to the zip code level, providing better detail and insight than the previous analysis based solely on results from air monitoring stations.