Study focuses on uranium exposure and birth rates on Navajo Nation Sept 27, 2013 By Arlyssa Becenti Diné Bureau navajo2@Gallupindependent WINDOW ROCK — An update on the Navajo Birth Cohort study from the University of New Mexico, which focuses on uranium exposure and its relationship with birth outcomes and child development, was given to the Health, Education and Human Services Committee Wednesday. The study is funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control after there had been many requests for community health in regard to uranium waste and how it has affected births on the Navajo Nation. UNM Community Environmental Health Program Director Johnnye Lewis said that this study is part of the five-year congressional mandated plan that will address the uranium contamination on the Navajo Nation. “This was the area expressed the most by members of the community,” Lewis said about the relationship between uranium and birth outcomes. In order to address uranium exposure and its effects on future child bearing on the Navajo Nation, Lewis said that they are in the process of recruiting more participants who are Navajo and live near or have been exposed to uranium and contaminated areas of the Navajo Nation. So far Lewis said that they have been able to send the first 100 blood and urine samples to the CDC. The samples will be analyzed before being analyzed again in Lewis’s laboratory. “This will give a good picture at how well tight the quality control is in the field at the IHS facilities,” Lewis said. The funding from the CDC has gone to UNM, Navajo Area Indian Health Services and Navajo Nation Division of Health for data analysis and community outreach. “We want to work with WIC, the Office of Uranium Workers, the Office of Health Education and the First Born Program to get people really involved,” NNDOH CHR Program Director Mae-Gilene Begay stated. “We are heavily involved (in) getting out to the chapters and have made presentations at the agency councils.” Lewis emphasized that recruitment is most important in areas of the Navajo Nation where uranium mining was heavily operated and for that HEHSC Vice Chairman Charles Damon II asked for Lewis to provide with data relative to the Churchrock area. “In Churchrock we have URI, Inc. and I would like to see the data so that the people have an understanding about what is going on,” Delegate Damon stated. “We need to educate the people about theses studies. They do no good if the people never hear them.” Lewis said that the studies do not have any data yet, but he was able to share data from the “Diné Project” study. “The ‘Diné Project’ includes water data, and it says there is about 8-10 (percent) that is contaminated from uranium and arsenic,” Lewis stated. “There are also some homes that have been built with rocks and materials from the mining sites. After the blastings, workers would take home contaminated materials and use them to build their homes.” After the report was accepted by the Health, Education and Human Services Committee, Chairman Jonathan Hale requested a written report of the findings in order to share with constituents.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Sep 2013 15:47:55 +0000
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