During the Cold War, there was extensive uranium mining on the Navajo Reservation, which has led to community concerns of exposure from uranium, arsenic, and other contaminants. Research at Northern Arizona University is focused on health risks and community impacts (e.g., consumption issues, threats to cultural values, spiritual concerns, and public health impacts) from exposure to environmental uranium and arsenic contamination of traditional food, soil, plants, and water for Navajo communities.  The approach for this project is to utilize a community-engaged research model to explore exposure pathways and to identify culturally applicable and community-constructed models for mitigation of the impact of the identified chemical contaminants on Navajo communities.  Chemical characterization of uranium and arsenic from environmental samples collected in mining and non-mining areas on the Navajo Reservation utilizing inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry will be reported.  Preliminary results indicate uranium levels in soil samples near abandoned mine sites are elevated compared to background and non-mining sites.  Water tested from unregulated wells also show some exceedances in uranium and arsenic, but these results do not necessarily correlate with mining/non-mining sites.  Community engagement in understanding the extent of exposure through food and water use is explored.  The goal is to develop culturally appropriate policy concerning the contamination.  This work is being done in consultation with the Navajo Traditional Knowledge Holders.

Health and wellbeing impact of contamination on the Navajo reservation

254th National Meeting (2017)

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