Uranium and Associated Heavy Metals in Ovis aries in a Mining Impacted Area in Northwestern New Mexico

Details

• Personal Author:
  Hodge FS ; Robbins WA ; Samuel-Nakamura C
• Description:
  The objective of this study was to determine uranium (U) and other heavy metal (HM) concentrations (As, Cd, Pb, Mo, and Se) in tissue samples collected from sheep (Ovis aries), the primary meat staple on the Navajo reservation in northwestern New Mexico. The study setting was a prime target of U mining, where more than 1100 unreclaimed abandoned U mines and structures remain. The forage and water sources for the sheep in this study were located within 3.2 km of abandoned U mines and structures. Tissue samples from sheep (n = 3), their local forage grasses (n = 24), soil (n = 24), and drinking water (n = 14) sources were collected. The samples were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. Results: In general, HMs concentrated more in the roots of forage compared to the above ground parts. The sheep forage samples fell below the National Research Council maximum tolerable concentration (5 mg/kg). The bioaccumulation factor ratio was >1 in several forage samples, ranging from 1.12 to 16.86 for Mo, Cd, and Se. The study findings showed that the concentrations of HMs were greatest in the liver and kidneys. Of the calculated human intake, Se Reference Dietary Intake and Mo Recommended Dietary Allowance were exceeded, but the tolerable upper limits for both were not exceeded. Food intake recommendations informed by research are needed for individuals especially those that may be more sensitive to HMs. Further study with larger sample sizes is needed to explore other impacted communities across the reservation. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Animals Arsenic Cadmium Environmental Pollution Inorganic Chemicals Lead Metals, Heavy Occupational Health Safety Uranium
• Keywords:
  Abandoned Mines Author Keywords: Sheep Bioaccumulation Contamination Drinking Water Environmental Contamination Food Food Chain Heavy Metals Mining Molybdenum Navajo Selenium Soil Sampling Uranium Mining

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• ISSN:
  1660-4601
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  14
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050549
• Citation:
  Int J Environ Res Public Health 2017 Aug; 14(8):848
• Contact Point Address:
  Christine Samuel-Nakamura, School of Nursing, University California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 4-246 Factor Bldg., Mailcode 691821, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
• Email:
  csamnak@ucla.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Arsenic (CAS RN 7440-38-2) ; Cadmium (CAS RN 7440-43-9) ; Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1) ; Molybdenum (CAS RN 7439-98-7) ; Selenium (CAS RN 7782-49-2) ; Uranium (CAS RN 7440-61-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• Performing Organization:
  University of California Los Angeles
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• End Date:
  20270630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4020de8f800745568ada3e9495f553144a622f11c7e8550c2cadd13b318bd5a7600a8c778ef36708abff84a5d7e4b448b04efa0af9000d09774bd762ada9cde5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210852/cdc_210852_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 722.89 KB ]