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

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  • Christine Samuel-Nakamura

    (School of Nursing, University California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 4-246 Factor Bldg., Mailcode 691821, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

  • Wendie A. Robbins

    (Center for Occupational and Environmental Health Fielding School of Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences, UCLA, 5-254 Factor Bldg., Mailcode 956919, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
    School of Nursing, UCLA, 5-940 Factor Bldg., Mailcode 691921, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

  • Felicia S. Hodge

    (School of Nursing, UCLA, 5-940 Factor Bldg., Mailcode 691921, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine Samuel-Nakamura & Wendie A. Robbins & Felicia S. Hodge, 2017. "Uranium and Associated Heavy Metals in Ovis aries in a Mining Impacted Area in Northwestern New Mexico," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:8:p:848-:d:106244
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lauren Hund & Edward J. Bedrick & Curtis Miller & Gabriel Huerta & Teddy Nez & Sandy Ramone & Chris Shuey & Miranda Cajero & Johnnye Lewis, 2015. "A Bayesian framework for estimating disease risk due to exposure to uranium mine and mill waste on the Navajo Nation," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 178(4), pages 1069-1091, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Christine Samuel-Nakamura & Felicia S. Hodge & Sophie Sokolow & Abdul-Mehdi S. Ali & Wendie A. Robbins, 2019. "Metal(loid)s in Cucurbita pepo in a Uranium Mining Impacted Area in Northwestern New Mexico, USA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-15, July.
    2. Jonathan Credo & Jaclyn Torkelson & Tommy Rock & Jani C. Ingram, 2019. "Quantification of Elemental Contaminants in Unregulated Water across Western Navajo Nation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-15, July.
    3. Dagmara Strumińska-Parulska & Jerzy Falandysz, 2020. "A Review of the Occurrence of Alpha-Emitting Radionuclides in Wild Mushrooms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-20, November.
    4. Tommy Rock & Ricky Camplain & Nicolette I. Teufel-Shone & Jani C. Ingram, 2019. "Traditional Sheep Consumption by Navajo People in Cameron, Arizona," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-13, October.

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