Johnnye Lewis, PhD
Research Professor, UNM College of Pharmacy
Debra MacKenzie, PhD
Assistant Research Professor, UNM College of Pharmacy
Joseph Hoover, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Arizona
Because of reliance on natural resources to maintain traditional diets, lifestyles, customs and languages, tribal communities have direct and frequent contact with metal mixtures from abandoned mine sites (estimated 161,000 in western United States), creating exposures through multiple pathways including inhalation, drinking water, and ingestion of foods either directly or indirectly contaminated by migration of the wastes. We have found metals mixtures result in different exposure profiles across three partnering indigenous communities: Navajo, Apsáalooke, and Cheyenne River Sioux. And while we see commonalities in immune dysfunction across these communities that can contribute to disparities in cancer and other chronic diseases, the metals exposures alone do not account for all of the risk factors. In response to community concerns about other sources of exposure, Phase 2 of the Native EH Equity Center will develop an understanding of the emerging additional plastic degradation contaminant profiles, evaluating constituents and distribution of microplastics and other degradation products, along with emissions from extractive industries that could add to these classes of chemicals, in both stationary and mobile exposure assessments.
The Center for Native American Environmental Health Equity employs sustainable, culturally-informed practices to enhance environmental health (EH) literacy, increase tribal EH research capacity, foster community engagement in EH research, and implement multi-directional translational strategies for disseminating the Center’s research. The Center for Native EH Equity has established partnerships with three Indigenous communities to conduct this research