Robert Allen

Detroit Free Press

Flint resident LeKia Nolan said she only drinks bottled and filtered water.

But this week, a blood test found a small amount of lead — the toxic metal that continues to be found in the city's tap-water supply. Her mother and nephew also have been exposed.

"It is really emotionally damaging. It is — mentally and emotionally," said Nolan, 38. "Basically, I'm a healthy person. So for me to know that I've been exposed to something so harmful, it's really upsetting. I cried for the first time last night, since all of this has been going on."

She said she's not sure how the lead would have gotten into her system. She's been on bottled and filtered water since September, and the blood test was in January.

In an effort to help others, Nolan and Marseille Allen have continued passing out water since last month using a GoFundMe page that's tallied more than $50,000 in donations.

The fund-raising effort started when Nolan's sister, professional basketball and former WNBA player Deanna Nolan, sent money from Russia for a couple pallets of bottled water. More people wanted to help, so the page was set up.

Next week, the effort is to include passing out more bottled water, as well as bathing wipes and shower spigot filters, to the city's residents, LeKia Nolan said Friday.

She said she's started a nutritional business, Nolan Integrative Wellness, to provide health coaching through schools to make sure kids learn healthy eating habits.

Lead is shown to cause permanent brain damage in children, but state officials have been encouraging kids to eat foods high in calcium, iron and vitamin C to help mitigate the effects.

Prolonged exposure to lead can cause abdominal pain, depression, forgetfulness, irritability, nausea and more, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Contact Robert Allen: rallen@freepress.com.