Four search categories about the Flint water crisis saw increased activity in fall 2015
Proportion of all Google searches that contain Flint water crisis-related terms for each category within each geographic area
Public health and contaminants in Michigan
Personal health, public health and news in Flint
Larger proportion of searches
Oct 1
Genesee County issues public health emergency
Sep 24–25
High blood levels detected in Flint children. Flint issues lead warning
Sep 25
Lead advisory issued
High point
HP
Personal health
HP
Public health
Public health
Smaller proportion of searches
High point
Contaminants
HP
News
Months
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
2014
2015
2016
2014
2015
2016
Note: For details on search topic definitions and sampling, see the Methodology.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of Google Health API data for Jan. 5, 2014–July 2, 2016.
“Searching for News: The Flint Water Crisis”
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Four search categories about the Flint water crisis saw increased activity in fall 2015
Proportion of all Google searches that contain Flint water crisis-related terms for each category within each geographic area
Personal health, public health and news in Flint
Oct 1
Genesee County issues public health emergency
Larger proportion of searches
Sep 25
Lead advisory issued
High point
HP
Personal health
HP
Public health
Smaller proportion of searches
News
Months
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
2014
2015
2016
Public health and contaminants in Michigan
Sep 24–25
High blood levels detected in Flint children. Flint issues lead warning
Larger proportion of searches
Public health
Contaminants
High point
Smaller proportion of searches
HP
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
2014
2015
2016
Note: For details on search topic definitions and sampling, see the Methodology.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of Google Health API data for Jan. 5, 2014–July 2, 2016.
“Searching for News: The Flint Water Crisis”
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Four search categories about the Flint water crisis saw increased activity in fall 2015
Proportion of all Google searches that contain Flint water crisis-related terms for each category within each geographic area
Personal health, public health and news in Flint
Larger proportion of searches
Oct 1
Genesee County issues public health emergency
Sep 25
Lead advisory issued
High pt.
Personal health
Public health
HP
News
HP
Smaller proportion of searches
2014
2015
2016
Public health and contaminants in Michigan
Sep 24–25
High blood levels detected in Flint children. Flint issues lead warning
Larger proportion of searches
Public health
Contaminants
High pt.
Smaller proportion of searches
High pt.
2014
2015
2016
Note: For details on search topic definitions and sampling, see the Methodology.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of Google Health API data for Jan. 5, 2014–July 2, 2016.
“Searching for News: The Flint Water Crisis”
PEW RESEARCH CENTER