Mining and Environmental Health Disparities in Native American Communities

Abstract

Purpose of ReviewMore than a century of hard rock mining has left a legacy of >160,000 abandoned mines in the Western USA that are home to the majority of Native American lands. This article describes how abrogation of treaty rights, ineffective policies, lack of infrastructure, and a lack of research in Native communities converge to create chronic exposure, ill-defined risks, and tribal health concerns.Recent FindingsRecent results show that Native Americans living near abandoned uranium mines have an increased likelihood for kidney disease and hypertension, and an increased likelihood of developing multiple chronic diseases linked to their proximity to the mine waste and activities bringing them in contact with the waste. Biomonitoring confirms higher than expected exposure to uranium and associated metals in the waste in adults, neonates, and children in these communities.SummaryThese sites will not be cleaned up for many generations making it critical to understand and prioritize exposure-toxicity relationships in Native populations to appropriately allocate limited resources to protect health. Recent initiatives, in partnership with Native communities, recognize these needs and support development of tribal research capacity to ensure that research respectful of tribal culture and policies can address concerns in the future. In addition, recognition of the risks posed by these abandoned sites should inform policy change to protect community health in the future.

Dissolved Uranium and Arsenic in Unregulated Groundwater Sources – Western Navajo Nation

“…However, information on the health impacts from past mining is lacking for tribal communities. The small population sizes, absent or ineffective policies, and a lack of infrastructure in tribal communities have created problems in understanding the full health impact of past mining activities (Lewis et al 2017). While research is limited, important studies have been conducted.…”

“…Understanding the spatial variability of groundwater contamination issues is critical for future resource management. Further, improving the capacity of tribal nations to mitigate health risks and to manage their natural resources in culturally appropriate ways is critical for sustainable future resource management (Lewis et al 2017). Objectives of this research are to provide insights on human health risks by assessing the spatial variability of U and As concentrations in unregulated groundwater on the western portion of the NN and to communicate contamination risks to the local Navajo people.…”

Metal-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

“…While these studies were all acute pulmonary response assessments, it was further established that vanadium, alone, can drive much of the toxicity and inflammatory outcomes. Such studies are being further pursued to identify whether such sources, numerous in the southwestern US [97], are a possible driver of elevated fibrosis and silicosis observed in the four-corners region [6]. …”

A Review of Metal Exposure Studies Conducted in the Rural Southwestern and Mountain West Region of the United States

“…The risk of exposure to metals found in the environment is a health concern for the rural communities in the Southwest/Mountain West region of the United States (U.S.) due to abundant mineral deposits and a land-use ethic that intimately connects many communities to the environment [1]. The potential for daily activities, and traditional cultural practices, to result in community-level non-occupational exposure to metal mixtures is a new and recently identified public health concern in the region.…”