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Quantification of Elemental Contaminants in Unregulated Water across Western Navajo Nation

Author

Listed:
  • Jonathan Credo

    (College of Medicine Clinical Translational Science Graduate Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA)

  • Jaclyn Torkelson

    (Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, P.O. Box 5698, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA)

  • Tommy Rock

    (Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, P.O. Box 5698, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA)

  • Jani C. Ingram

    (Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, P.O. Box 5698, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA)

Abstract

The geologic profile of the western United States lends itself to naturally elevated levels of arsenic and uranium in groundwater and can be exacerbated by mining enterprises. The Navajo Nation, located in the American Southwest, is the largest contiguous Native American Nation and has over a 100-year legacy of hard rock mining. This study has two objectives, quantify the arsenic and uranium concentrations in water systems in the Arizona and Utah side of the Navajo Nation compared to the New Mexico side and to determine if there are other elements of concern. Between 2014 and 2017, 294 water samples were collected across the Arizona and Utah side of the Navajo Nation and analyzed for 21 elements. Of these, 14 elements had at least one instance of a concentration greater than a national regulatory limit, and six of these (V, Ca, As, Mn, Li, and U) had the highest incidence of exceedances and were of concern to various communities on the Navajo Nation. Our findings are similar to other studies conducted in Arizona and on the Navajo Nation and demonstrate that other elements may be a concern for public health beyond arsenic and uranium.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:15:p:2727-:d:253240
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Brugge, D. & Goble, R., 2002. "The history of uranium mining and the Navajo people," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 92(9), pages 1410-1419.
    3. 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. Jonathan Credo & Jani C. Ingram, 2021. "Perspective Developing Successful Collaborative Research Partnerships with AI/AN Communities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-10, August.
    2. Irene Martinez-Morata & Benjamin C. Bostick & Otakuye Conroy-Ben & Dustin T. Duncan & Miranda R. Jones & Maya Spaur & Kevin P. Patterson & Seth J. Prins & Ana Navas-Acien & Anne E. Nigra, 2022. "Nationwide geospatial analysis of county racial and ethnic composition and public drinking water arsenic and uranium," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Walter M. Warren-Vega & Armando Campos-Rodríguez & Ana I. Zárate-Guzmán & Luis A. Romero-Cano, 2023. "A Current Review of Water Pollutants in American Continent: Trends and Perspectives in Detection, Health Risks, and Treatment Technologies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Tommy Rock & Lindsey Jones & Jani C. Ingram, 2021. "Approaches for Disseminating Environmental Research Findings to Navajo Communities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-8, June.

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