1
|
Smalling KL, Bradley PM. Invited Perspective: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Drinking Water-Disparities in Community Exposures Based on Race and Socioeconomic Status. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:41302. [PMID: 38656166 PMCID: PMC11041623 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
|
2
|
Eaves LA, Keil AP, Jukic AM, Dhingra R, Brooks JL, Manuck TA, Rager JE, Fry RC. Toxic metal mixtures in private well water and increased risk for preterm birth in North Carolina. Environ Health 2023; 22:69. [PMID: 37845729 PMCID: PMC10577978 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-023-01021-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to metals in private well water may increase the risk of preterm birth (PTB) (delivery < 37 weeks' gestation). In this study, we estimated associations between arsenic, manganese, lead, cadmium, chromium, copper, and zinc concentrations in private well water and PTB incidence in North Carolina (NC). METHODS Birth certificates from 2003-2015 (n = 1,329,071) were obtained and pregnancies were assigned exposure using the mean concentration and the percentage of tests above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for the census tract of each individuals' residence at the time of delivery using the NCWELL database (117,960 well water tests from 1998-2019). We evaluated associations between single metals and PTB using adjusted logistic regression models. Metals mixtures were assessed using quantile-based g-computation. RESULTS Compared with those in other census tracts, individuals residing in tracts where > 25% of tests exceeded the MCL for lead (aOR 1.10, 95%CI 1.02,1.18) or cadmium (aOR 1.11, 95% CI 1.00,1.23) had an increased odds of PTB. Conversely, those residing in areas with > 25% MCL for zinc (aOR 0.77 (95% CI: 0.56,1.02) and copper (aOR 0.53 (95% CI: 0.13,1.34)) had a reduced odds of PTB. A quartile increase in the concentrations of a mixture of lead, cadmium, and chromium was associated with a small increased odds for PTB (aOR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01, 1.03). This metal mixture effect was most pronounced among American Indian individuals (aOR per quartile increase in all metals: 1.19 (95% CI 1.06,1.34)). CONCLUSIONS In a large study population of over one million births, lead and cadmium were found to increase the risk of PTB individually and in a mixture, with additional mixtures-related impacts estimated from co-exposure with chromium. This study highlights critical racial and ethnic health disparities in relation to private well water thereby emphasizing the urgent need for improved private well water quality to protect vulnerable populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Eaves
- Department of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 166A Rosenau Hall, CB #7431, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Alexander P Keil
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Anne Marie Jukic
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Radhika Dhingra
- Department of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 166A Rosenau Hall, CB #7431, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Jada L Brooks
- School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Tracy A Manuck
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Julia E Rager
- Department of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 166A Rosenau Hall, CB #7431, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 166A Rosenau Hall, CB #7431, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bradley PM, Kolpin DW, Thompson DA, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Breitmeyer SE, Cardon MC, Cwiertny DM, Evans N, Field RW, Focazio MJ, Beane Freeman LE, Givens CE, Gray JL, Hager GL, Hladik ML, Hofmann JN, Jones RR, Kanagy LK, Lane RF, McCleskey RB, Medgyesi D, Medlock-Kakaley EK, Meppelink SM, Meyer MT, Stavreva DA, Ward MH. Juxtaposition of intensive agriculture, vulnerable aquifers, and mixed chemical/microbial exposures in private-well tapwater in northeast Iowa. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 868:161672. [PMID: 36657670 PMCID: PMC9976626 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In the United States and globally, contaminant exposure in unregulated private-well point-of-use tapwater (TW) is a recognized public-health data gap and an obstacle to both risk-management and homeowner decision making. To help address the lack of data on broad contaminant exposures in private-well TW from hydrologically-vulnerable (alluvial, karst) aquifers in agriculturally-intensive landscapes, samples were collected in 2018-2019 from 47 northeast Iowa farms and analyzed for 35 inorganics, 437 unique organics, 5 in vitro bioassays, and 11 microbial assays. Twenty-six inorganics and 51 organics, dominated by pesticides and related transformation products (35 herbicide-, 5 insecticide-, and 2 fungicide-related), were observed in TW. Heterotrophic bacteria detections were near ubiquitous (94 % of the samples), with detection of total coliform bacteria in 28 % of the samples and growth on at least one putative-pathogen selective media across all TW samples. Health-based hazard index screening levels were exceeded frequently in private-well TW and attributed primarily to inorganics (nitrate, uranium). Results support incorporation of residential treatment systems to protect against contaminant exposure and the need for increased monitoring of rural private-well homes. Continued assessment of unmonitored and unregulated private-supply TW is needed to model contaminant exposures and human-health risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mary C Cardon
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Nicola Evans
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Rena R Jones
- National Cancer Institute/NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mary H Ward
- National Cancer Institute/NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Eaves LA, Fry RC. Invited Perspective: Toxic Metals and Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:41303. [PMID: 37079391 PMCID: PMC10117635 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A. Eaves
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rebecca C. Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Eaves LA, Lanier P, Enggasser AE, Chung G, Turla T, Rager JE, Fry RC. Generation of the Chemical and Social Stressors Integration Technique (CASS-IT) to identify areas of holistic public health concern: An application to North Carolina. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 862:160409. [PMID: 36436630 PMCID: PMC10695022 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Due to structural racism and income inequality, exposure to environmental chemicals is tightly linked to socioeconomic factors. In addition, exposure to psychosocial stressors, such as racial discrimination, as well as having limited resources, can increase susceptibility to environmentally induced disease. Yet, studies are often conducted separately in fields of social science and environmental science, reducing the potential for holistic risk estimates. To tackle this gap, we developed the Chemical and Social Stressors Integration Technique (CASS-IT) to integrate environmental chemical and social stressor datasets. The CASS-IT provides a framework to identify distinct geographic areas based on combinations of environmental chemical exposure, social vulnerability, and access to resources. It incorporates two data dimension reduction tools: k-means clustering and latent profile analysis. Here, the CASS-IT was applied to North Carolina (NC) as a case study. Environmental chemical data included toxic metals - arsenic, manganese, and lead - in private drinking well water. Social stressor data were captured by the CDC's social vulnerability index's four domains: socioeconomic status, household composition and disability, minority status and language, and housing type and transportation. Data on resources were derived from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA's) Resilience and Analysis Planning Tool, which generated measures of health resources, social resources, and information resources. The results highlighted 31 NC counties where exposure to both toxic metals and social stressors are elevated, and health resources are minimal; these are counties in which environmental justice is of utmost concern. A census-tract level analysis was also conducted to demonstrate the utility of CASS-IT at different geographical scales. The tract-level analysis highlighted specific tracts within counties of concern that are particularly high priority. In future research, the CASS-IT can be used to analyze United States-wide environmental datasets providing guidance for targeted public health interventions and reducing environmental disparities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Eaves
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Paul Lanier
- School of Social Work, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Adam E Enggasser
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Gerard Chung
- School of Social Work, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Social Service Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Toby Turla
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Julia E Rager
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Nationwide geospatial analysis of county racial and ethnic composition and public drinking water arsenic and uranium. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7461. [PMID: 36460659 PMCID: PMC9718774 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35185-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
There is no safe level of exposure to inorganic arsenic or uranium, yet recent studies identified sociodemographic and regional inequalities in concentrations of these frequently detected contaminants in public water systems across the US. We analyze the county-level association between racial/ethnic composition and public water arsenic and uranium concentrations from 2000-2011 using geospatial models. We find that higher proportions of Hispanic/Latino and American Indian/Alaskan Native residents are associated with significantly higher arsenic and uranium concentrations. These associations differ in magnitude and direction across regions; higher proportions of non-Hispanic Black residents are associated with higher arsenic and uranium in regions where concentrations of these contaminants are high. The findings from this nationwide geospatial analysis identifying racial/ethnic inequalities in arsenic and uranium concentrations in public drinking water across the US can advance environmental justice initiatives by informing regulatory action and financial and technical support to protect communities of color.
Collapse
|
7
|
Bradley PM, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Focazio MJ, Charboneau R, George CM, Navas-Acien A, O’Leary M, Red Cloud R, Zacher T, Breitmeyer SE, Cardon MC, Cuny CK, Ducheneaux G, Enright K, Evans N, Gray JL, Harvey DE, Hladik ML, Kanagy LK, Loftin KA, McCleskey RB, Medlock-Kakaley EK, Meppelink SM, Valder JF, Weis CP. Tapwater Exposures, Effects Potential, and Residential Risk Management in Northern Plains Nations. ACS ES&T WATER 2022; 2:1772-1788. [PMID: 36277121 PMCID: PMC9578051 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.2c00293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
In the United States (US), private-supply tapwater (TW) is rarely monitored. This data gap undermines individual/community risk-management decision-making, leading to an increased probability of unrecognized contaminant exposures in rural and remote locations that rely on private wells. We assessed point-of-use (POU) TW in three northern plains Tribal Nations, where ongoing TW arsenic (As) interventions include expansion of small community water systems and POU adsorptive-media treatment for Strong Heart Water Study participants. Samples from 34 private-well and 22 public-supply sites were analyzed for 476 organics, 34 inorganics, and 3 in vitro bioactivities. 63 organics and 30 inorganics were detected. Arsenic, uranium (U), and lead (Pb) were detected in 54%, 43%, and 20% of samples, respectively. Concentrations equivalent to public-supply maximum contaminant level(s) (MCL) were exceeded only in untreated private-well samples (As 47%, U 3%). Precautionary health-based screening levels were exceeded frequently, due to inorganics in private supplies and chlorine-based disinfection byproducts in public supplies. The results indicate that simultaneous exposures to co-occurring TW contaminants are common, warranting consideration of expanded source, point-of-entry, or POU treatment(s). This study illustrates the importance of increased monitoring of private-well TW, employing a broad, environmentally informative analytical scope, to reduce the risks of unrecognized contaminant exposures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul M. Bradley
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Columbia, South Carolina 29210, United States
| | | | - Kelly L. Smalling
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648, United States
| | | | - Robert Charboneau
- Spirit
Lake Tribe Office of Environmental Health, Fort Totten, North Dakota 58335, United States
| | - Christine Marie George
- Johns
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Columbia
University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Marcia O’Leary
- Missouri
Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625, United States
| | - Reno Red Cloud
- Oglala
Sioux Tribe Natural Resources Regulatory Agency, Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770, United States
| | - Tracy Zacher
- Missouri
Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625, United States
| | | | - Mary C. Cardon
- U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Christa K. Cuny
- Missouri
Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625, United States
| | - Guthrie Ducheneaux
- Missouri
Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625, United States
| | - Kendra Enright
- Missouri
Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625, United States
| | - Nicola Evans
- U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - James L. Gray
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-3742, United States
| | - David E. Harvey
- Indian Health Service/HHS, Rockville, Maryland 20857, United States
| | | | - Leslie K. Kanagy
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-3742, United States
| | - Keith A. Loftin
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Lawrence, Kansas 66049, United States
| | | | | | | | - Joshua F. Valder
- U.S. Geological
Survey, Rapid City, South Dakota 57702, United States
| | - Christopher P. Weis
- National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences/NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, United
States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Larrabee Sonderlund A, Charifson M, Ortiz R, Khan M, Schoenthaler A, Williams NJ. A comprehensive framework for operationalizing structural racism in health research: The association between mass incarceration of Black people in the U.S. and adverse birth outcomes. SSM Popul Health 2022; 19:101225. [PMID: 36177482 PMCID: PMC9513165 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural racism represents a key determinant of the racial health disparities that has characterized the U.S. population throughout its existence. While this reality has recently begun to gain increasing acknowledgment and acceptance within the health sciences, there are still considerable challenges related to defining the concept of structural racism and operationalizing it in empirical study. In this paper, building on the existing evidence base, we propose a comprehensive framework that centers structural racism in terms of its historical roots and continued manifestation in most domains of society, and offer solutions for the study of this phenomenon and the pathways that connect it to population-level health disparities. We showcase our framework by applying it to the known link between spatial and racialized clustering of incarceration - a previously cited representation of structural racism - and disparities in adverse birth outcomes. Through this process we hypothesize pathways that focus on social cohesion and community-level chronic stress, community crime and police victimization, as well as infrastructural community disinvestment. First, we contextualize these mechanisms within the relevant extant literature. Then, we make recommendations for future empirical pathway analyses. Finally, we identify key areas for policy, community, and individual-level interventions that target the impact of concentrated incarceration on birth outcomes among Black people in the U.S.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anders Larrabee Sonderlund
- Center for Healthful Behavior Change, Institute for Excellence in Health Equity, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, USA
- Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - Mia Charifson
- Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, USA
- Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, USA
| | - Robin Ortiz
- Center for Healthful Behavior Change, Institute for Excellence in Health Equity, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, USA
| | - Maria Khan
- Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, USA
| | - Antoinette Schoenthaler
- Center for Healthful Behavior Change, Institute for Excellence in Health Equity, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, USA
| | - Natasha J. Williams
- Center for Healthful Behavior Change, Institute for Excellence in Health Equity, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Developing Toxic Metal Environmental Justice Indices (TM-EJIs) for Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, and Manganese Contamination in Private Drinking Wells in North Carolina. WATER 2022; 14. [DOI: 10.3390/w14132088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Toxic metal exposure via private drinking wells is an environmental health challenge in North Carolina (NC). Policies tainted by environmental racism shape who has access to public water supplies, with Black People, Indigenous People, and People of Color (BIPOC) often excluded from municipal services. Thus, toxic metal exposure via private wells is an environmental justice (EJ) issue, and it is under-studied in NC. In this study, we developed four Toxic Metal Environmental Justice Indices (TM-EJIs) for inorganic arsenic (iAs), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and manganese (Mn) to quantitatively identify areas of environmental injustice in NC. TM-EJIs were calculated at the census tract level (n = 2038) as the product of the following: (1) number of well water tests with concentrations exceeding national standards, (2) percentage of the low-income and minority population, and (3) population density. Mn had the greatest proportion (25.17%) of positive TM-EJIs, which are indicative of socioeconomically disadvantaged groups exposed to toxic metals. Positive TM-EJIs, particularly for Pb and Mn, were primarily located in eastern NC. These results highlight several new counties of concern and can be used by public health professionals and state environmental agencies to prioritize remediation efforts and efforts to reduce environmental injustices.
Collapse
|
10
|
Eaves LA, Keil AP, Rager JE, George A, Fry RC. Analysis of the novel NCWELL database highlights two decades of co-occurrence of toxic metals in North Carolina private well water: Public health and environmental justice implications. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 812:151479. [PMID: 34767890 PMCID: PMC9733895 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Private well users are particularly vulnerable to metal exposure as they are not protected by the Safe Drinking Water Act. In North Carolina (NC), approximately 2.4 million individuals rely on private well water. In the present study, we constructed the NCWELL database: a comprehensive database of 117,960 geocoded well water tests over twenty-years in NC inclusive of 28 metals/metalloids. The NCWELL database was analyzed to identify areas of concern for single and co-occurring toxic metal contamination of private wells in NC. County-level population-at-risk rankings were calculated by combining toxic metal levels and the proportion of residents relying on well water. Additionally, k-means analysis was used to identify counties with critical co-occurrence of toxic metals. In the NCWELL database, inorganic arsenic (iAs) and lead (Pb) were detected above the EPA standards of 10 and 15 ppb in over 2500 and over 3000 tests, respectively. Shockingly, iAs was observed at levels up to 806 ppb and Pb at levels up to 105,440 ppb. Manganese (Mn) was detected above the EPA lifetime Health Advisory Limit in 4.9% and above the secondary Maximum Contaminant Level in 24.3% of all well water tests in NC, with a maximum concentration of 46,300 ppb reported. Mixtures-based analysis identified four distinct clusters of counties, one demonstrating high iAs and Mn and another with high Pb. Over the twenty-year period, metal levels remained high, indicative of sustained contamination in areas of concern. This study provides a novel database for researchers and concerned citizens in NC, demonstrates a methodology for identifying priority geographic regions for single and multiple contaminants, and has environmental justice implications in NC where metal exposure via private well water remains a serious public health concern.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Eaves
- Department of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Alexander P Keil
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Julia E Rager
- Department of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Andrew George
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Institute for the Environment, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Roberts JD, Dickinson KL, Hendricks MD, Jennings V. "I Can't Breathe": Examining the Legacy of American Racism on Determinants of Health and the Ongoing Pursuit of Environmental Justice. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:211-227. [PMID: 35244891 PMCID: PMC8894549 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00343-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review “I can’t breathe” were the last words spoken by Eric Garner (July 17, 2014), Javier Ambler (March 28, 2019), Elijah McClain (August 30, 2019), Manuel Ellis (March 3, 2020), and George Floyd (May 25, 2020). These were all African American men who died at the hands of police in the United States. Recently, police brutality has gained critical and overdue attention as one clear manifestation of systemic racism. However, historical and current policies related to a wide range of environmental hazards have exposed Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to disproportionately high levels of physical, mental, social, emotional, and cultural toxicities, thus creating unbreathable and unlivable communities. Recent Findings This paper traces the roots of systemic anti-Black racism in America from its origins in the 1400s, through systems of scientific racism that pathologized Blackness in order to justify slavery, and through evolving policies and structures that have shifted over time but consistently exposed many African American communities to unsafe and unhealthy environments. Summary We conclude with calls for bold solutions to move through and past this oppressive history and toward true environmental justice the enables all communities to thrive together.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer D Roberts
- Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
| | - Katherine L Dickinson
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Marccus D Hendricks
- Department of Urban Studies and Planning, School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Viniece Jennings
- Department of Public Health, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA, 30030, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Early life lead exposure from private well water increases juvenile delinquency risk among US teens. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2110694119. [PMID: 35101975 PMCID: PMC8832992 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2110694119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Public health agencies worldwide have determined that there is no safe level for children’s exposure to lead, a neurotoxin. This study shows that lead in drinking water from private wells is significantly associated with juvenile delinquency. Compared to children in homes with public water supplies, those relying on private wells have a 21% higher risk of any delinquency and a 38% increased risk of serious delinquency. The steepest increases in risk occur at the lowest exposure levels. The results highlight the need to prevent lead-leaching from well components, plumbing, and fixtures in the 13% of US households relying on private wells. They also suggest the need to decrease blood and environmental lead thresholds currently used to identify at-risk children. Early life exposure to environmental lead (Pb) has been linked to decreased IQ, behavior problems, lower lifetime earnings, and increased criminal activity. Beginning in the 1970s, limits on Pb in paint, gasoline, food cans, and regulated water utilities sharply curtailed US environmental Pb exposure. Nonetheless, hundreds of thousands of US children remain at risk. This study reports on how unregulated private well water is an underrecognized Pb exposure source that is associated with an increased risk of teenage juvenile delinquency. We build a longitudinal dataset linking blood Pb measurements for 13,580 children under age 6 to their drinking water source, individual- and neighborhood-level demographics, and reported juvenile delinquency records. We estimate how early life Pb exposure from private well water influences reported delinquency. On average, children in homes with unregulated private wells had 11% higher blood Pb than those with community water service. This higher blood Pb was significantly associated with reported delinquency. Compared to children with community water service, those relying on private wells had a 21% (95% CI: 5 to 40%) higher risk of being reported for any delinquency and a 38% (95% CI: 10 to 73%) increased risk of being reported for serious delinquency after age 14. These results suggest that there could be substantial but as-yet-unrecognized social benefits from intervention programs to prevent children’s exposure to Pb from private wells, on which 13% of the US population relies.
Collapse
|
13
|
Jones DH, Yu X, Guo Q, Duan X, Jia C. Racial Disparities in the Heavy Metal Contamination of Urban Soil in the Southeastern United States. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031105. [PMID: 35162130 PMCID: PMC8834334 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
(1) Background: Field monitoring data for addressing the disproportional burden of exposure to soil contamination in communities of minority and low socioeconomic status (SES) are sparse. This study aims to examine the association between soil heavy metal levels, SES, and racial composition. (2) Methods: A total of 423 soil samples were collected in the urban areas of eight cities across six Southern states in the U.S., in 2015. Samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) for eight heavy metals. The association was examined with mixed models with the log-transformed metal concentrations as the dependent variables and rankings of low-income or minority percentages as the explanatory variables. (3) Results: Model results showed that soil metal concentrations were significantly associated with rankings of poverty and minority percentages. The cadmium concentration significantly increased by 4.7% (p-value < 0.01), for every 10 percentiles of increase in poverty rank. For every 10 percentiles of increase in minority rank, the soil concentrations were significantly up (p-values < 0.01) for arsenic (13.5%), cadmium (5.5%), and lead (10.6%). Minority rank had significant direct effects on both arsenic and lead. (4) Conclusions: The findings confirmed elevated heavy metal contamination in urban soil in low-income and/or predominantly minority communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daleniece Higgins Jones
- Department of Public Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
- Correspondence: (D.H.J.); (C.J.)
| | - Xinhua Yu
- School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA;
| | - Qian Guo
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; (Q.G.); (X.D.)
| | - Xiaoli Duan
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; (Q.G.); (X.D.)
| | - Chunrong Jia
- School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA;
- Correspondence: (D.H.J.); (C.J.)
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Haque E, Thorne PS, Nghiem AA, Yip CS, Bostick BC. Lead (Pb) concentrations and speciation in residential soils from an urban community impacted by multiple legacy sources. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 416:125886. [PMID: 34492824 PMCID: PMC8666965 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In many urban areas, elevated soil lead (Pb) concentrations are indicators of community-level Pb exposure. Here, we examine the spatial distribution and speciation of legacy soil Pb contamination in East Chicago, Ind., an industrial center with a wide range of Pb sources including a former lead smelter. In situ X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (n = 358) revealed widespread soil Pb contamination above the Environmental Protection Agency regulatory limit for soils. This soil contamination was heterogenous across all neighborhoods, and mostly uncorrelated with distance from the former smelting site. Soil Pb levels increased with decreasing median household income in East Chicago's nine neighborhoods (r = -0.73, p = 0.03). Extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (n = 44) indicated that the soil Pb was primarily adsorbed to iron and manganese oxides or humic acids, and as Pb hydroxycarbonate regardless of contamination levels. Crystalline insoluble forms of Pb, like pyromorphite, were not detected in significant concentrations. Thus, the unique chemical forms of potential Pb sources to soil, such as paint, ore and slag are not persistent and instead are extensively repartitioned into acid-soluble forms of Pb with greater bioavailability. These findings have implications for remediation efforts and human health as blood Pb levels in this community are significantly elevated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ezazul Haque
- Human Toxicology Program, Graduate College, University of Iowa, USA; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, USA
| | - Peter S Thorne
- Human Toxicology Program, Graduate College, University of Iowa, USA; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, USA.
| | - Athena A Nghiem
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, New York, USA
| | - Caryn S Yip
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, USA
| | - Benjamin C Bostick
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, New York, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Nocco MA, McGill BM, MacKenzie CM, Tonietto RK, Dudney J, Bletz MC, Young T, Kuebbing SE. Mentorship, equity, and research productivity: lessons from a pandemic. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 2021; 255:108966. [PMID: 34565805 PMCID: PMC8455165 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.108966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus pandemic is more fully exposing ubiquitous economic and social inequities that pervade conservation science. In this time of prolonged stress on members of the research community, primary investigators or project leaders (PLs) have a unique opportunity to adapt their programs to jointly create more equitable and productive research environments for their teams. Institutional guidance for PLs pursuing field and laboratory work centers on the physical safety of individuals while in the lab or field, but largely ignores the vast differences in how team members may be experiencing the pandemic. Strains on mental, physical, and emotional health; racial trauma; familial responsibilities; and compulsory productivity resources, such as high-speed internet, quiet work spaces, and support are unequally distributed across team members. The goal of this paper is to summarize the shifting dynamics of leadership and mentorship during the coronavirus pandemic and highlight opportunities for increasing equity in conservation research at the scale of the project team. Here, we (1) describe how the pandemic differentially manifests inequity on project teams, particularly for groups that have been structurally excluded from conservation science, (2) consider equitable career advancement during the coronavirus pandemic, and (3) offer suggestions for PLs to provide mentorship that prioritizes equity and wellbeing during and beyond the pandemic. We aim to support PLs who have power and flexibility in how they manage research, teaching, mentoring, consulting, outreach, and extension activities so that individual team members' needs are met with compassion and attention to equity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mallika A Nocco
- Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, United States of America
| | - Bonnie M McGill
- Anthropocene Science Section, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | | | - Rebecca K Tonietto
- Department of Biology, University of Michigan - Flint, Flint, MI 48502, United States of America
| | - Joan Dudney
- Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States of America
| | - Molly C Bletz
- University of Massachusetts Boston, Department of Biology, Boston, MA 02125, United States of America
| | - Talia Young
- Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States of America
| | - Sara E Kuebbing
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Under-Sink Activated Carbon Water Filters Effectively Remove Lead from Private Well Water for over Six Months. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12123584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Children who rely on private well water in the United States have been shown to be at greater risk of having elevated blood lead levels. Evidence-based solutions are needed to prevent drinking water lead exposure among private well users, but minimal data are available regarding the real-world effectiveness of available interventions like point-of-use water treatment for well water. In this study, under-sink activated carbon block water filters were tested for lead and other heavy metals removal in an eight-month longitudinal study in 17 homes relying on private wells. The device removed 98% of all influent lead for the entirety of the study, with all effluent lead levels less than 1 µg/L. Profile sampling in a subset of homes showed that the faucet fixture is a significant source of lead leaching where well water is corrosive. Flushing alone was not capable of reducing first-draw lead to levels below 1 µg/L, but the under-sink filter was found to increase the safety and effectiveness of faucet flushing. The results of this study can be used by individual well users and policymakers alike to improve decision-making around the use of under-sink point-of-use devices to prevent disproportionate lead exposures among private well users.
Collapse
|
17
|
Nigra AE, Chen Q, Chillrud SN, Wang L, Harvey D, Mailloux B, Factor-Litvak P, Navas-Acien A. Inequalities in Public Water Arsenic Concentrations in Counties and Community Water Systems across the United States, 2006-2011. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2020; 128:127001. [PMID: 33295795 PMCID: PMC7724967 DOI: 10.1289/ehp7313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the United States, nationwide estimates of public drinking water arsenic exposure are not readily available. We used the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Six-Year Review contaminant occurrence data set to estimate public water arsenic exposure. We compared community water system (CWS) arsenic concentrations during 2006-2008 vs. after 2009-2011, the initial monitoring period for compliance with the U.S. EPA's 10 μ g / L arsenic maximum contaminant level (MCL). OBJECTIVE Our objective was to characterize potential inequalities in CWS arsenic exposure over time and across sociodemographic subgroups. METHODS We estimated 3-y average arsenic concentrations for 36,406 CWSs (98%) and 2,740 counties (87%) and compared differences in means and quantiles of water arsenic (via quantile regression) between both 3-y periods for U.S. regions and sociodemographic subgroups. We assigned CWSs and counties MCL compliance categories (High if above the MCL; Low if below) for each 3-y period. RESULTS From 2006-2008 to 2009-2011, mean and 95th percentile CWS arsenic (in micrograms per liter) declined by 10.3% (95% CI: 6.5%, 14.1%) and 11.5% (8.3%, 14.8%) nationwide, by 11.4% (4.7%, 18.1%) and 16.3% (8.1%, 24.5%) for the Southwest, and by 36.8% (7.4%, 66.1%) and 26.5% (12.1%, 40.8%) for New England, respectively. CWSs in the High/High compliance category (not MCL compliant) were more likely in the Southwest (61.1%), served by groundwater (94.7%), serving smaller populations (mean 1,102 persons), and serving Hispanic communities (38.3%). DISCUSSION Larger absolute declines in CWS arsenic concentrations at higher water arsenic quantiles indicate declines are related to MCL implementation. CWSs reliant on groundwater, serving smaller populations, located in the Southwest, and serving Hispanic communities were more likely to continue exceeding the arsenic MCL, raising environmental justice concerns. These estimates of public drinking water arsenic exposure can enable further surveillance and epidemiologic research, including assessing whether differential declines in water arsenic exposure resulted in differential declines in arsenic-associated disease. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7313.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne E. Nigra
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Qixuan Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Steven N. Chillrud
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, New York, USA
| | - Lili Wang
- Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| | - David Harvey
- United States Public Health Service, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Brian Mailloux
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, New York, USA
- Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Pam Factor-Litvak
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|