Elevated tungsten and cobalt in airborne particulates in Fallon, Nevada: Possible implications for the childhood leukemia cluster

Sheppard, Paul R.; Ridenour, Gary; Speakman, Robert J.; Witten, Mark L.

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2005.09.012

Cited by 57 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Rocks collected within Fallon as well as from desert sites around Fallon show normal concentrations of tungsten and cobalt (Sheppard et al, 2007). Soils of residential Fallon and nonresidential outlying (Sheppard et al 2006(Sheppard et al , 2007. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Along with service industries and small businesses, Fallon has an industrial facility that carries out hard-metal metallurgy, including tungsten carbide and cobalt (Harris and Humphreys 1983). This hard-metal facility has been suggested as a candidate source of tungsten within Fallon generally (Reno Gazette-Journal, 5 February 2003) and more specifically for elevated airborne tungsten and cobalt in total suspended particulates of Fallon (Sheppard et al 2006).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Prior research has included drinking water (Moore et al 2002), jet fuel (US ATSDR 2002), pesticides (US CDC 2003a), surface water (U.S. ATSDR 2003a), outdoor air (US ATSDR 2003b), surface soil and indoor dust (US ATSDR 2003c), potential lingering effects of underground nuclear bomb testing in the area (Seiler 2004), and groundwater (Seiler et al 2005). Although few definitive conclusions have been made, significantly elevated airborne tungsten and cobalt levels have been identified in airborne particulates within Fallon relative to comparison towns (Sheppard et al 2006) and in lichens within Fallon compared to outlying desert areas (Sheppard et al, 2007). Toxicological research on effects of tungsten and cobalt on leukemia has been recommended, as has additional environmental research in Fallon to improve understanding of its airborne tungsten and cobalt.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Spatial patterns of tungsten and cobalt in surface dust of Fallon, Nevada

Sheppard

Speakman

Ridenour³

et al. 2007

Environ Geochem Health

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Spatial patterns of tungsten and cobalt are described for surface dust of Fallon, Nevada, where a cluster of childhood leukemia has been ongoing since 1997. In earlier research, airborne tungsten and cobalt was shown to be elevated in total suspended particulates in Fallon. To fine-tune the spatial patterns of tungsten and cobalt deposition in Fallon, surface dust was collected in a grid pattern within as well as outside of Fallon to establish background concentrations of metals. In surface dust, tungsten and cobalt show sharp peaks (934 ppm and 98 ppm, respectively) within Fallon just north of highway 50 and west of highway 95. These two peaks overlap spatially, and given the grid pattern used for collecting surface dust, the source area of these two airborne metals can be pinpointed to the vicinity of hard-metal industry located north of highway 50 and west of highway 95. Fallon is distinctive in west central Nevada because of high airborne tungsten and cobalt particulates, and given its cluster of childhood leukemia, it stands to reason that additional biomedical research is in order to test directly the leukogenicity of combined airborne tungsten and cobalt particulates.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Spatial patterns of tungsten and cobalt in surface dust of Fallon, Nevada

Sheppard

Speakman

Ridenour³

et al. 2007

Environ Geochem Health

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…Sampling near the hard-metal facility does not represent biased sampling on our part, as has been suggested by others (Sueker, 2006). Rather, this is an example of targeted sampling (e.g., Rainfall (mm) www.intechopen.com Seinfeld, 1972) to take advantage of prior knowledge that the area of the hard-metal facility is known to be where peak loadings of airborne tungsten and cobalt have occurred and where spatial variability in airborne tungsten and cobalt has been high (Sheppard et al, 2006b). In each year 2008-2010, leaves from just 10 trees were sampled, as opposed to the 95 trees sampled in 2007 (Sheppard et al, 2009a).…”

Section: Leaf Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Along with service industries and small businesses, Fallon has a facility that does hard-metal metallurgy, which includes tungsten carbide and cobalt (Harris and Humphreys, 1983). The hard-metal facility has been considered a candidate source of tungsten within Fallon generally (Reno Gazette-Journal, 5 February 2003) and more specifically of elevated tungsten and cobalt in total suspended particulates and in surface dust of Fallon (Sheppard et al, 2006a(Sheppard et al, , 2007a.…”

Section: Site Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%