The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) has published a new study published in The Lancet that finds significant disparities in well-being among racial and ethnic groups, and across sex and age groups. In the first analysis of its kind, the Human Development Index (HDI) was adapted to examine trends and inequities at the individual rather than the group level from 2008 to 2021.      

Study results showed the highest detectable concentrations of heavy metals were lead, barium and chromium. All samples except for lead had less than or the same levels expected for an urban area.The median levels of lead detected in seven samples from play areas (400 mg/kg) and three samples from residential areas (1200 mg/kg) were four times the levels for Texas overall. And these likely were underestimated because they did not account for lead-based paint or automotive fuel.