Grantee Research Project Results
2020 Progress Report: Center for Indigenous Environmental Health Research
EPA Grant Number: R836151Center: Center for Indigenous Environmental Health Research
Center Director: Burgess, Jefferey L.
Title: Center for Indigenous Environmental Health Research
Investigators: Burgess, Jefferey L. , Harris, Robin B. , O’Rourke, Mary Kay , Ingram, Jani Cheri , Teufel-Shone, Nicolette I.
Current Investigators: Burgess, Jefferey L. , Harris, Robin B. , O’Rourke, Mary Kay , Ingram, Jani Cheri , Teufel-Shone, Nicolette I. , Hadeed, Steve , Blohm, Jonathan , Shammari, Modhi Al , Carl, Adam , Yuan, Nicole , Teufel-Shone, Nicky , Mayer, Brian , Clichee, Dominic , Whitewater, Shannon , Chico-Jarillo, Tara
Institution: University of Arizona
EPA Project Officer: Callan, Richard
Project Period: July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2020 (Extended to June 30, 2021)
Project Period Covered by this Report: July 1, 2019 through June 30,2020
Project Amount: $1,500,000
RFA: NIH/EPA Centers of Excellence on Environmental Health Disparities Research (2015) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Human Health
Objective:
This progress report covers the major activities and accomplishments during the third year of funding for the Center for Indigenous Environmental Health Research (CIEHR) at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. The overall goal of the Center is to partner with American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities to build capacity to determine the contribution of environmental exposures to health inequities and support generation and dissemination of information that influences policy development.
The Center is comprised of two research projects: 1) Health and Wellbeing Impact of Contamination of Traditional Food and Water on the Navajo (RP1) and 2) Cumulative Environmental Effects – Expanding Research with the Hopi Tribe (RP2), which are supported by four cores: 1) Administrative, 2) Community Engagement, 3) Exposure Science and 4) Pilot.
Separate detailed reports have been developed for each of the Center cores and research projects. Listed below are several of the major activities and accomplishments of the Center during this second reporting period, July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020.
Progress Summary:
CIEHR Overall Center Highlights/Accomplishments
During this fifth year of funding, a significant portion of time and effort has been dedicated toward supporting and fostering the infrastructure that was established in the earlier reporting periods. This Center infrastructure facilitates communication and collaboration within CIEHR (between cores and research projects) and between CIEHR and its internal and external partners.
The CIEHR Management Team, comprised of core and research project leads and co-leads has maintained monthly meetings. The CIEHR CD/CDI has successfully co-facilitated several UA partnerships and collaborations in this reporting period.
Training and financial support of CIEHR’s first indigenous early stage investigator or career development investigator, Dr. Stephanie Carroll Rainie (Ahtna Athabascan) continued in this reporting period. Dr. Rainie has guided Center initiatives and directed activities and partnership building in the Pilot Projects Core. Training and financial support of CIEHR’s first post-doctoral scholar, Dr. Carrie Nuva Joseph (Hopi) continued during this reporting period and was extended until March 2020. CIERH also provided training and financial support of JoRee LaFrance (Apsáalooke (Crow)), a doctoral student in Environmental Science.
The Pilot Project Core staff and all four of the Pilot Project awardees, Swinomish, Sitka, San Carlos, and JoRee LaFrance/Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee Pilot Projects, continued work started last reporting period to examine environmental health issues using CBPR principles. This year our combined indigenous and academic teams continued collaborations to carry out the research proposed by all pilot projects. The CIEHR PPC team and the academic teams selected for each pilot project have started work to ensure that all projects engage community resilience, improve EHL and support policy development.
The CIEHR Community Engagement Core (CEC) has worked with CIEHR research projects to ensure that research activities conducted in collaboration with the Navajo and Hopi communities effectively engage community-based stakeholders through the use of a community resilience approach and translate the research findings into culturally-relevant materials. The CEC worked with Hopi Environmental Health Study (RP2) research team to translate and apply study findings to improve environmental health literacy in the Hopi tribal communties. The CEC also provided extensive guidance on community report back content and activities.The CEC has provided feedback, input and consultation to all CIEHR Pilot Projects – Swinomish, Sitka, San Carlos, and JoRee LaFrance/Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee. Additionally, members of the CEC have mentored and worked in collaboration with CIEHR post-doctoral fellow Carrie Joseph on her research activities. The CEC offered feedback and guidance on pre and post survey content, design and implementation for Dr. Joseph’s research activities.
The CIEHR Exposure Science Core (ESC) has worked to provide professional development and training to CIEHR personnel and community research partners in support of the CIEHR research projects and projects. In this reporting period, the ESC team has continued provide support and training to the RP2 community research team, graduate students and undergraduate interns. research personnel. The ESC provided extensive training related to the operation of air quality equipment, collection of body measurements and field techniques in quality assurance and quality control measures. The ESC has also developed and provided STEM outreach programs and courses for the Hopi Junior and Senior High School students.The ESC has also provided extensive consultation and aid to all CIEHR Pilot Projects – Swinomish, Sitka, San Carlos and JoRee LaFrance/Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee.
For the ‘Health and Wellbeing Impact of Contamination of Traditional Food and Water on the Navajo’ (RP1), Dr. Jani Ingram and her team of graduate student researchers, Jonathan Credo, Tasha Nez, and Andee Lister have made progress toward characterizing the extent of contamination in culturally significant food (mutton) and water of the Navajo communities of Leupp and Cameron, and of the off-reservation control site, Eagar, AZ. Jonathan Credo has worked in collaboration with the University of New Mexico to join water chemistry data sets to address gaps in information regarding water quality issues on Navajo Nation. Former RP1 team member, Lindsey Jones, worked on a manuscript of her work investigating overall water chemistry of unregulated wells within 12 chapter areas in the Western Agency of the Navajo Nation. Graduate student Tasha Nez will continue work with this questionnaire in this reporting period and next reporting period in the planned expansion to the Cove, New Mexico community. Graduate student Andee Lister continued her work on food (mutton) characterization.
For ‘Cumulative Environmental Effects – Expanding Research with the Hopi Tribe’ (RP2), Drs. Robin Harris and Mary Kay O’Rourke, along with their UA team of graduate and undergraduate student researchers, Steve Hadeed, Jonathan Blohm (left to begin medical school in Fall 2019), Adam Carl, and Modhi Alshammari have made several successful trips to the Hopi Reservation in northern Arizona to meet with Hopi community partners to troubleshoot issues with regional air sampling equipment, assisting household recruitment and sampling as well as return of individual and household results and to continue facilitating discussion and collaboration on research design, methods and implementation. As of March 2020, the RP2 team has successfully closed recruitment at 76 households. As of mid-March 2020, sampling of 4 visits, 2 winters and 2 summers has been conducted for at least 80% of recruited households. The RP2 has developed materials and protocols for household and individual results report back. In addition, with the assistance of the ESC, the RP2 has continued to provide extensive training to community research partners, including Hopi environmental technicians on the maintenance and calibration of the equipment. In this reporting period, the RP2 teams has maintained all required tribal and institutional approvals to conduct research.
Administrative Core
The Administrative Core (AC) of the Center for Indigenous Environmental Health Research (CIEHR) at the University of Arizona (UA) Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) serves as the nexus for all Center activities and provides management, financial oversight, facilitation, training and evaluation to all Center cores and research projects.
The overall objective of the CIEHR Administrative Core is to provide administrative, management and financial oversight, facilitate and coordinate the research projects and cores, and provide training and evaluation. This will be achieved through three specific aims.
Aim 1. Provide CIEHR administration, coordination and oversight.
1 Interact with sponsoring organizations: Since July 2016, the PI/PD, CD/CDI and Program Coordinator have maintained frequent contact and communication with both NIEHS and EPA program officers. Internally, the AC team has maintained regular interactions with senior personnel and administrators at the UA and Northern Arizona University (NAU), project/ performance site for RP1 and CEC co-lead, Nicky Teufel- Shone (since August 2017). These interactions have ensured that research and financial activities are being undertaken under the appropriate protocols and with all necessary approvals.
2. Provide budgetary oversight. The AC team has worked closely with accountant(s) in MEZCOPH Business Office to manage financial resources. The AC generates and reviews monthly account budget reports for CIEHR Cores and Research Projects located at the UA. In addition, the AC reviews and approves monthly invoices received by NAU Financial Office for the two NAU subaward(s)/subcontract(s). In May-June 2019, the AC Program Coordinator worked with Center accountant to appropriately allocate funding to CIEHR projects and cores for Year 5 EPA award funding. In July-August 2019, similar procedures were undertaken to appropriately allocate funding to CIEHR projects and cores for Year 5 NIH award funding. In May-June 2019, the AC Program Coordinator worked with Center accountant to amend the two NAU subcontracts/subawards with Year 5 EPA award funding. In July-August 2019, similar procedures were undertaken to amend the subaward with Year 5 NIH award funding. In August-October 2019, the AC Program Coordinator worked with CIEHR accountant and UA Post Awards personnel to draft and finalize Year 4 Federal Financial Report for Center.
Within the period, the AC program coordinator worked with the Center accountant to establish and/or modify subcontracts/subawards with all pilot project awardees – Swinomish Pilot Project, Sitka Pilot Project, San Carlos Pilot Project and Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee Pilot Project. Modifications were made to established subawards – Swinomish, Sitka and San Carlos – to extend the award period for each project by one year. The new end date for each subaward was June 2020. The Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee Pilot Project was established and finalized in January 2019 after several delays in paperwork and extensive subcontract review by the tribal community partner.
1.3 Ensure Institutional Review Board (IRB) issues are addressed. The AC team has worked to ensure that all CIEHR core and research activities follow not only UA, NAU and NIH IRB protocols but those of collaborating AI/AN tribes and communities. The AC Program Coordinator has worked to understand the IRB application and review process that is required to conduct research with any of CIEHR’s tribal research partners and communities, including Navajo Nation, Hopi, Swinomish, Sitka and San Carlos.
The CD/CDI has worked to ensure that appropriate institutional and tribal IRB approvals for CIEHR Research Projects (RP1 – Navajo & RP2 – Hopi) has been secured before the commencement of any human subjects related research. The AC team is provided support and guidance to the RP1- Navajo team as they prepare documents to amend IRB approved mutton consumption survey to extend to another community. Additional oversight was provided for any IRB approvals needed for core activities. Specifically, the CEC secured IRB approval of their evaluation of CAB guidelines which consists of pre- and post-surveys of community advisory boards.
The CD/CDI has worked with PIs from both CIEHR Research Projects to secure documentation of any updated IRB approvals. The CD/CDI has packaged any updated approvals and forwarded to both funding agencies (NIH and EPA) for review.
1.4 Integrate CIEHR activities. The AC team scheduled and led monthly meetings of the CIEHR Management Team, which consists of all Center core and research project lead and co-leads. In between monthly meetings, the AC team utilized other forms of communication, including email and telephone to check in on research personnel and ensure that all cores and research projects were receiving full administrative support. CIEHR personnel have facilitated the dissemination/ sharing of information and increased collaboration via the secured shared folder, Dropbox, created in the last reporting period for this purpose.
Aim 2. Provide training, evaluation and planning.
One of the overall aims of CIEHR is to increase the number of AI/AN research faculty to contribute to tribal capacity building and facilitate the engagement of tribes in research.
The training activities that CIEHR provided to the CIEHR Co-Director (CD) and Indigenous Career Development Investigator (CDI), Dr. Stephanie Carroll Rainie and the post-doctoral scholar, Carrie Nuva Joseph in this reporting period are listed in Table 1. Professional development activities provided by CIEHR to CIEHR personnel and affiliated personnel (including community partners) are listed in Table 2.
1. Recruit and train indigenous early stage investigators. In this reporting period, CIEHR both provided and supported academic and leadership opportunities that the CDI has undertaken. Within the Center, the CDI was made Co-Director of CIEHR and lead of the CIEHR Pilot Project Core (PPC) and directs planning, outreach, and relationships to develop pilot projects. The PI/PD, Dr. Jefferey Burgess, met weekly with CD/CDI regarding program planning and management.
The CD/CDI authored four manuscripts and one book chapter on Indigenous data sovereignty and genomics data and Indigenous peoples. Two manuscripts have been published and the remaining manuscripts have been accepted for publication. The CD/CDI co-leads UA Partnerships for Indigenous Environmental Research to link together those collaborating with tribes on environmental- focused research to improve relationships with tribes and coordinate UA research.
2. Provide Indigenous student and community research opportunities. In this reporting period, CIEHR supported Dr. Carrie Nuva Joseph on as a one-year post-doctoral scholar/Career Development Investigator to serve on CIEHR projects. Dr. Joseph was hired onto CIEHR in January 2019. The CIEHR AC, CEC, ESC, and RP2 committed to providing training and research support to the CIEHR post-doctoral scholar. In addition, each of these cores and projects committed funding from their carryover funds to support Dr. Joseph for the 1-year post-doctoral position.
In January 2020, Dr. Joseph’s post-doctoral position was extended another year with primary funding support for this position coming from the UA Agnes Nelms Haury Program. Although CIEHR is no longer providing funding support, members of the CIEHR AC, RP2 and CEC have continued to provide training, research and professional support of Dr. Joseph’s post-doctoral activities.
In this reporting period, CIEHR supported JoRee LaFrance (Apsáalooke (Crow)), a doctoral student in Environmental Science at the University of Arizona in her community research and outreach activities. In particular, the CIEHR CDI provided critical training, research and professional support of JoRee LaFrance’s pre-doctoral activities.
3. Provide overall evaluation and planning. The AC team created tracking spreadsheet for all CIEHR cores and research project activities including presentations, publications and/or grant proposals. This spreadsheet is a workable document and is updated periodically. The AC team developed and reviewed evaluation metrics and criteria for Center short and medium-term outcomes. Additionally, the AC team developed a publication strategy for CIEHR cores and research project research and outreach activities. The publication strategy is centered around several concepts and foci requested by the CIEHR External Advisory Board and several that have emerged throughout the research process.
Aim 3. Develop innovative practices for sustainable environmental health disparities research
1. Coordinate with related organizations. The CD/CDI coordinated the integration of the CIEHR Internal Advisory Board (IAB) into the UA Partnership for Indigenous Environmental Strategies (UA PIES) group. The UA PIES group was convened by the CIEHR CD/CDI and Dan Ferguson at the Institute for the Environment and is comprised of folks from all across the UA campus who are working on environmental-focused research in collaboration with Indigenous communities to improve relationships with tribes and coordinate UA research.
3.2 Foster and lead the development of new research opportunities. In the reporting period, the AC program coordinator provided administrative duties as needed and assisted with any additional research activities to the CIEH pilot project teams.
Community Engagement Core
Overview
The Community Engagement Core (CEC) of the Center for Indigenous Environmental Health Research (CIEHR) at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and Northern Arizona University serves to collaborate with American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities to develop the resources and support the processes needed to advance sustainable strategies for reducing adverse exposures and improving health.
The CEC is comprised of:
- Core Lead: Nicole Yuan, PhD, MPH
- Co-Lead: Nicky Teufel-Shone, PhD
- Co-Lead: Brian Mayer, PhD
- Program Coordinator: Dominic Clichee, MPH
Objectives of Research
The overall objective of the CIEHR Community Engagement Core is to ensure that research projects are carried out within a community resilience framework and that research findings are translated into culturally relevant materials. This will be achieved through four specific aims.
- Dialogue - To equitably engage AI/AN stakeholders and CIEHR members for the ethical and culturally-appropriate translation and application of Center findings. Each CIEHR proposed research pilot project will have a Community Advisory Board (CAB). The CEC will assist with the recruitment of CAB members and facilitate meetings during the project period. The CEC will enhance CAB members’ understanding of CIEHR’s mission and obtain input on project-specific goals, planned outcomes, and dissemination activities targeting tribal and scientific audiences both regionally and nationally. For Research Project 1, the CEC will collaborate with partnering chapters (similar to counties) within the Navajo Nation to disseminate and translate findings on metal exposures found in traditional foods to reduce risk of exposure. For Research Project 2, the CEC will collaborate with the Hopi Tribe’s Departments of Health and Environmental Safety to disseminate and translate findings on chemical exposures found in water, food, cooking, and coal burning to reduce risk of environmental hazards exposure in homes. For the pilot studies, the CEC will work with CABs on recruitment for these projects, to identify and address environmental factors affecting the health of rural and urban AI/AN communities across the nation.
- Knowledge - To strengthen the environmental health literacy (EHL) of AI/AN leaders, policy-makers and community members. The CEC will collaborate with and build on approaches developed by the SWEHSC COEC and tribal health departments including the effective educational approaches of tribal community health representative (CHRs) to improve the EHL of the CAB members and communities participating in CIEHR research projects (Satterfield et al. 2002). This process will integrate professional and lay health educators’ skills in to develop strategies to reach AI/AN decision makers and the general public.
- Action - To strengthen community resilience and capacity to promote environmental health in AI/AN communities on tribal lands and in urban settings. The CEC will build on the resources, expertise, and experiences of the CABs of the proposed research and pilot projects to adapt a CBPR training developed by CAIR and co-deliver to tribal employees and partners engaged in research activities and other community stakeholders. The CEC and CAB collaboration will identify socio-cultural determinants linked to community health, capacity and resilience among each participating community.
- Evaluation - To assess the effectiveness of the CEC activities and contributions to the mission of the Center. The CEC will use NIH-NIEHS’ Partnerships for Environmental Public Health Evaluation Metrics and indicators of community capacity and resilience to develop qualitative and quantitative measures of changes. Key outcomes will include quality of relationships and partnerships, improved EHL, enhanced community resilience and adaptive strategies, and established/modified AI/AN health policies and programs
Aim 1: Dialogue. To equitably engage American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) stakeholders and Center for Indigenous Environmental Health Research (CIEHR) members for the ethical and culturally-appropriate translation and application of Center findings.
CAB Guidelines
During the past year, the CEC made several accomplishments related to the CEC’s Community Advisory Board (CAB) Guidelines document and interactive worksheets. The CAB Guidelines promote best practices for the formation, operation, sustainability and evaluation of CABs. First, the CEC manuscript on the development of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) Guidelines was accepted for publication by the Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action. It will be published in 2020. The title of the article is “Development of Guidelines to Improve the Effectiveness of Community Advisory Boards in Health Research.” The article includes information about how to access a copy of the CAB Guidelines on the CIEHR website (https://ciehr.arizona.edu/community-advisory-board-guidelines). The CEC created a list of leaders and researchers in the field and submitted it to the journal to promote dissemination of the article. Second, information about the CAB Guidelines and related publication was shared by the NIEHS Partnerships for Environmental Public Health. Third, three individuals requested access to the CAB Guidelines for their research projects. In order to obtain a copy of the CAB Guidelines, the individuals completed an online survey. The online survey consisted of questions about the requestor’s background, project description, funding source, and experiences working with a CAB. They will be invited to complete follow-up surveys during spring 2020.
Research Project 2: Hopi Tribe
During the past year, the CEC worked with the Research Project 2 with the Hopi Tribe to translate and apply the study findings related to aspects of household environmental samples and individual responses to various social determinants of health, social network, and self-rated health questionnaires. The CEC contributed to the development of the framework for the major report-back activities to individual study participants and to the broader Hopi community. Specifically, the CEC proposed the format for reporting back to the community, where a simulation of a typically Hopi home will be laid out in meeting rooms on the Hopi reservation. The simulation will include posters, equipment, and feedback activities placed in virtual representation of specific aspects of the study. Specific aspects might include tap water safety, indoor air quality related to stove use, and radon monitoring within homes.
Aim 2: Knowledge. To strengthen the environmental health literacy (EHL) of AI/AN leaders, policymakers and community members.
Post-Doctoral Research Project: Uranium Mining Legacy and the Hopi Tribe
During the past year, the CEC worked with and mentored the post-doctoral fellow, Carrie Joseph. The CEC assisted Dr. Joseph with Aim 3 of her research project. The goal of Aim 3 is to increase environmental literacy around mining legacy and abandoned sites, health-related concerns, and risk reduction and mitigation strategies dependent on her study outcomes. The CEC provided guidance on the pre- and post-survey design including developing items that match the research questions, creating culturally-appropriate responses, and identifying procedures for pilot testing initial versions of the survey. Dr. Joseph will administer the pre- and post-surveys during community educational forums focused on uranium mining legacy in the Hopi tribal community during spring 2020.
Aim 3: Action. To strengthen community resilience and capacity to promote environmental health in AI/AN communities on tribal lands and in urban settings.
Research Project 2: Hopi Tribe
The CEC was involved in the development and implementation of the training of tribal Community Health Representatives to collect environmental health and health disparity data for Research Project 2 with the Hopi Tribe.
Pilot Project: San Carlos Apache Tribe
The CEC developed and implemented an in-person training on human subjects research and survey administration to the project team, consisting of staff and students. The training was videotaped and used as a webinar training for San Carlos Apache college students. Tribal college students were recruited to administer surveys with community members at three separate time points. The training addressed the following topics: CITI human subjects research training program, protecting human subjects research, best practices for and administering research surveys. The training also reviewed and provided guidance on the Stop Burning project consent form process and baseline survey administration.
Gold King Mine Full Project
The CEC, primarily through the involvement of Dr. Teufel-Shone, was engaged in the qualitative analysis of the focus groups data collected from Diné (Navajo) communities impacted by the contamination of the San Juan River through the Gold King Mine spill. The outcomes of the analysis included contributions to community forums designed to improve the environmental health literacy of Diné communities. The outcomes also resulted in the translation of research findings into mitigation interventions with Navajo Nation Department of Emergency Preparedness and the Medicine Men’s Association in planning community communication community-healing efforts. The findings are also being used to develop community presentations and scientific manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals. The CEC has been involved in three community forums and is leading two manuscripts, slated for submission during summer 2020.
Systematic Review Project: Resilience among Indigenous Populations
During the past year, the CEC conducted a comprehensive systematic review of peer-reviewed literature on resilience among Indigenous populations. The purpose of the project was to understand how resilience is defined, measured, and evaluated in the Indigenous health research literature. The CEC conducted searches using several research databases including Web of Science. The CEC identified abstracts based on keywords. The selected keywords were Native, Indigenous, Aboriginal, resilience, resiliency, and health. The total number of abstracts that were identified was 320. Each member of the CEC was assigned about 80 abstracts to review and code based on a codebook developed for the project. The codes included type of article, geographic location, Native nation, rural/urban setting, type of resilience, definition of resilience, special population, outcome variables, and quantitative and qualitative methods. The findings will identify strengths that promote community resilience in Indigenous populations. The CEC will write up the findings of the project for publication in a peer-reviewed journal during summer 2020. The findings may also be used to inform outreach and dissemination activities with AI/AN communities.
Aim 4: Evaluation. To assess the effectiveness of the CEC activities and contributions to the mission of the Center.
CAB Guidelines During spring 2020, the CEC will administer a post-survey to the three individuals who requested a copy of the CAB Guidelines. The post-survey will be administered online. The survey includes questions about experiences and feedback on specific sections of the CAB Guidelines that were used. Responses to the post-survey will be used to make future changes to the CAB Guidelines and inform additional dissemination strategies.
Evaluation During Year 5, the CEC explored options with CIEHR on strategies for examining the effectiveness of CEC activities with the CIEHR-funded research and pilot projects. The CEC developed some potential strategies, including surveys for internal and external evaluation. One survey would be administered to CIEHR faculty and students to obtain feedback on CEC activities and assistance and suggestions for improvement. The second survey would be administered to community partners who collaborated with CIEHR. Similarly, the second survey would obtain feedback on CEC activities and assistance and suggestions for improvement. The CEC will work closely with the other Cores to finalize the evaluation plan.
Exposure Science Core
The Exposure Science Core (ESC) of the Center for Indigenous Environmental Health Research (CIEHR) at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health provides technical service to the funded research and pilot projects. Areas of technical support include epidemiologic/study design development; expertise in methodology related to sample collection, analysis and interpretation; development, maintenance and security of analytical databases; and statistical consultation referral for aid with data analysis.
The ESC is comprised of four individuals:
- Core Lead: Mary Kay O’Rourke, PhD
- Co-Lead: Paloma Beamer, PhD
- Investigator: Marc Verhougstrate, PhD (joined in year 4)
- Post-Doc: Carrie Joseph Nuva (joined in year 4)
The ESC maintains laboratory preparation and freezer space needed for the HEHP and pilot projects. All labs are inspected for compliance with safety procedures and meet GLP standards. A member of the ESC is assigned to each of the pilot projects to assure requested help is provided in an effective and timely fashion. The core is available to each of the designated CIEHR projects. The Hopi Environmental Health Project (HEHP) is making extensive use of the ESC. The Navajo Mutton Project is forging its own path. The section below describes the 2019 – 20 ESC accomplishments.
Objectives of Research:
The overall objective of the CIEHR Exposure Science Core (ESC) will be to supply technical service and support to CIEHR research projects and pilot projects that will be proposed by American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. This will be achieved through three specific aims.
- To provide service to projects proposed in the application. The ESC will provide expertise /training in assessment of exposure and modeling the ingestion pathway accounting for intake of food, water and beverages to Research Project 1 (RP1) – Health and Wellbeing Impact of Contamination of Traditional Food and Water on the Navajo and food, water and air exposures in Research Project 2 (RP2) – Cumulative Environmental Effects: Expanding Research with the Hopi Tribe. Both projects require computation of culturally appropriate exposure factors for use in models. The Navajo are concerned with foods of local cultural significance, including contamination of locally grown foods. Ingestion rates will need to be determined in conjunction with tribal wishes. The Hopi Tribe is concerned with intake of arsenic, uranium and other contaminants and their potential impact on health. These issues will be addressed in RP1 and RP2 respectively; both tribes have concerns about obesity and diabetes, issues that may be further addressed in pilot projects. The ESC is designed to provide expertise in all these areas, and has established relationships with external laboratories for analysis of chemical contaminants in food and other media.
- To provide service to pilot projects proposed by AI/AN communities. The Administrative Core (AC) will solicit proposals addressing environmental health disparities from tribes and other AI/AN organizations. The solicitations will be encouraged by the CEC and other Centers and Programs represented on the CIEHR Internal Advisory Board. The AC will evaluate and select the proposals and will facilitate contact between the ESC and the successful grantees. The ESC and the CEC will work with the AI/AN partner to define technical expertise that may be required, including study design refinement, the loan of necessary equipment, contact with specific laboratories for sample analysis, consultation on interpretation of measurements, statistical expertise for analysis of samples, consultation on simulation of data to evaluate community issues, and quality assurance guidance.
- To work with the CEC, pilot project grantees and the community to translate data into action(s). Prior to collection of data, the CEC will work with the tribe to determine the purpose of the data collection and make certain (with the ESC) that the data being gathered can be used by the tribe to generate solutions addressing environmental health disparities. The ESC will work with the CEC / pilot project leaders throughout the project to analyze pilot project data and to recommend specific actions supported by the data
Aim 1: To provide service to projects proposed in the application
The ESC executed the reorganization and development of the CIEHR webpage. We have continued to provide support for updates through 2020
Hopi Environmental Health Project (HEHP):
Equipment Support and Training: The ESC provides support for the HEHP field office, air pollution site and equipment on the Hopi Reservation. The THERMO tech returned to the site in Kykotsmovi and serviced the TEOM-1405-DF. We have encouraged Clayton Honyumptewa to use this site as the basis for development of a full air pollution-monitoring site supported by Region 9. Apparently, a proposal for collection of air pollution data has been written. We volunteered to review the proposal prior to submission to Region 9; there appears to be some internal delay to site development. Ownership of this equipment will revert to the Tribe at the end of project year 5. Once again, we provided training to four tribal members for continuing operation of the site. We continued to maintain the field office in Kykotsmovi and provided additional training for a new field technician on the use and service of the 13 different field monitors used for household assessments. This effort includes covering the ongoing costs associated with calibration and repair.
Field collection materials and post collection storage and processing occur in the ESC/ HEHP shared space. Each spring (May), ESC personnel inspect all equipment used in the HEHP. Equipment undergo cleaning, repair, operational checks and calibration with vendors as appropriate. The ESC continues to train HEHP personnel with the hope of improving data collection using the real-time equipment, particular focus is on the data downloads. We established computer connectivity to the field office with remote access to the field download computer. Technicians were instructed to call personnel at the ESC and Hopi project to remotely observe each download. Hopi partners are confident in their capacity to download the data and refuse to utilize this service leading to lost data. The revolving door of tribal personnel continue to hamper HEHP progress. In spite of these setbacks we have completed field collections from ~75 households (83% of study design). Our expectation was that fewer than half the homes would complete sampling in the two different seasons. Instead only 15% were lost to follow-up (death, moved out of area, reduced interest, initial sampling during the last year with liming issues related to second sampling). Meaning 85% were sampled during both seasons.
Hopi School Involvement: The ESC continues to develop and outreach program for Hopi Junior and Senior High School students in STEM areas. HEHP asked the ESC for help meeting this additional need expressed by the Tribe and consistent with the project. The ESC was the optimal group to approach since they possess environmental science expertise. During the 2019-2020 school year, two “Citizen Science” outreach topics were developed for eighth (~100) and 11th and 12th grade students (~40). In all, forty-eight classes evaluated energy use in reservation homes (n = 24; a big issue for the Tribe) and aspects of climate change related to fuel use on Hopi lands.
These two exercises involved UA scientists, UA public health students, the Hopi classroom teachers (Ms Honyouti, Ms Yazzie-Riggs and Ms. Mahkewa). Last year Ms. Joshweseoma from the Hopi Health and Human Services Department participated, encouraged student achievement, and described a new college scholarship program available to successful students. Unfortunately, with changes in tribal government, she left her position and the educational grant was rescinded. She is now working to develop a Health and Human Services Department for the Paiute Tribe, which may lead to new outreach opportunities for researchers.
Parents receive an introductory letter describing the energy and climate projects. The letter stressed that these were school science projects. During the first class meeting, we presented a 15-minute introductory description of the topic (energy use and climate change) including discussion of potential hazards. During the spring, students recounted the previous projects undertaken by the team. Instructors described the “homework” and the need to look at personal energy billing. Students brought the energy bills to class and exercises were undertaken looking at the pollution generated from energy consumption and differences between various energy sources. Students made a cost benefit comparison of various energy sources used. This is a major issue for tribal members who have been heating homes with free coal from the Peabody mine. Now that coal is no longer available, most families are gathering free wood from tribal and BLM lands. The Forestry program at NAU estimates that the forests of Northern Arizona hold a 3-5 year supply of wood for collection and use. The Tribe is poised to encounter major home heating energy and economic issues related to available fuel. On the up side, if families convert to liquid propane, the indoor air quality will improve radically.
Effects of climate change will be encountered in Hopi agriculture, blue corn and bean production and preservation of way of life. Short lecture modules are interspersed with analysis of local weather records. Discussion follows about the difference between long-term trends and short-term weather events. Shifts in Pacific water temperatures and air masses affect weather and climate on Hopi. We tie in the production of particulate from fuel use with green house effects and climate shifts.
The students, ESC member/instructors and tribal participants discussed ways to address fuel availability and shifts in regional climate. We were able to use preliminary data from the Hopi project to address energy choices and reduction in air pollution. Students completed an evaluation of the exercise. Students and teachers enjoyed the project and the ESC was invited back to facilitate future STEM related projects. Two UA Education Department faculty are interested in integrating traditional ecological knowledge into these modules. Talks for this expansion are ongoing. We are applying for funds to make this expanded interaction sustainable.
Preparation and Distribution of Individual HEHP Results: Return of individual results began during 2017. To date results have been returned to 45 homes. The last of the household samples have been delivered to the Arizona Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants (ALEC) and should be completed by April for return in May and June of 2020. Results will be returned using the same template used in past years for other earlier homes. The delivered reports contained the results plus information enabling participants to take remedial actions. The return of results provided an opportunity to enhance environmental health literacy in the community through enlightenment of project participants. Information identified sources of contaminants, regulatory levels and advisories, methods of remediation, potential health effects, and contact information to help resolve issues. The University of Arizona IRB approved the result template.
Hopi field technicians return the results to participants. Initial visits have lasted up to 1.5 hours per household. We have reduced delivery to 30 minutes per household with a focus on the participant’s interest. Two forms are used to evaluate the delivery of results. The participant completes the first form evaluating the delivery and the field team member completed the second form, to identify shortcomings of the material. The template is continuously revised to accommodate weaknesses identified by participants.
Technical and Tribal Approval of submitted information: The ESC and the Hopi
Tribe reviewed all manuscripts (n = 3), and abstracts (n = 12), posters (n = 8) and oral presentations (n = 4) made during the review period. Three of these were local student training sessions sometimes in preparation of conference presentations, while two were presented at tribal training programs (NARCT); two were presented at the International meeting of ISES-ISIAQ, and one at the annual HEI conference. The three manuscripts have been submitted to journals.
Post-Doctoral Development: The ESC contributed a third of the salary for a new Native post-doc. A mentoring team reviewed and helped develop an ambitious work plan. Two manuscripts were revised and submitted for publication. She applied for a Haury Early Faculty Development Award and received it. She attended one data analysis workshop to develop additional analytical skills and applied for a Haury Challenge Grant. The 1-year post-doc ended and we consider this an enormous success over a short time period.
Gold King Mine (GKM) Spill Project has concluded with community teach-ins and relief that the water appears safe for community use. The project developed an expanded view of water usage by native people along the San Juan River.
Aim 2: To provide service to pilot projects (PP) proposed by AI/AN communities.
Through the Administrative Core (AC) CIEHR has identified four Pilot Projects (PP). One member of the ESC was matched with each PP topic based on expertise. The identified ESC member interacted with the PP to provide topic expertise during the proposal development and supplemental analytical support.
- The Swinomish Project will examine homes for potential mold issues. The Tribe successfully hired an environmental specialist and one of her responsibilities is execution of the project. The study design was reviewed and revised. The tribal Environmental Office developed a collaborative assessment approach with the tribal HUD office. The ESC agreed to sample approximately 15 homes for indoor and outdoor mold concentrations (Anderson N6 using MEA) to validate the moisture/mold survey instrument developed in the early phase of the project. ESC personnel were to join tribal personnel to inspect and sample for mold during the week of March 23, 2020. Given local concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tribe is closing offices and rescheduled sampling for late April or early May. Currently Dr. Mary Kay O’Rourke is the ESC liaison with the project.
- Sitka Marine Mammal Project: The AC recommended funding this project to facilitate the relationship between a University of Fairbanks analytical Laboratory and investigators evaluating marine food contamination. The ESC has offered analytic expertise to the group. This year they made great progress collecting specimens and expanding work with Hg in marine mammals. The ESC continues to offer support and encouragement, which currently appears unneeded. The group has made progress this year and does not require any ESC services. Dr. O’Rourke has assumed responsibility for the project with aid provided by Dr. Verhougstrate.
- San Carlos Apache Garbage Burning project: The goal of this project is to reduce burning of household garbage, improve air quality, and nurture appreciation of clean air in the communities. The project has two components: (1) sampling actively burned material in each of the San Carlos Districts and quantifying yields of PM2.5, PAHs, VOCs, and dioxins. The San Carlos EPA identified 189 homes with active burn barrels and selected 12 homes for sampling during burns during 2 seasons. Ten homes were sampled in August (commercial lab lost the samples) and September, while temperatures still exceeded 95oF. Eight of these homes agreed to a third sampling during the winter rainy season with high humidity, rain and low daily temperatures (< 70 oF). Garbage was sorted, weighed by class and air samples were successfully analyzed using real time equipment. The sampling information was presented to the community on January 16th, 2020.
- To expand information obtained by EPA during the late 1990’s, specific classes of garbage will be weighed and collected for separate types of garbage found at San Carlos. Burning garbage will be sampled for particulate, VOCs, PAHs and dioxins for each garbage class. These data will be linked to the community data to model pollutant yield for a wider array of garage being burned. Then we will perform risk assessments for respiratory and cancer outcomes. The ESC is working with the community to develop educational materials aimed at reducing garbage burning. Dr. O’Rourke is the ESC liaison for this project.
- ESC Collaboration with the NIEHS funded SWEHSC community outreach core. SWEHSC funded a community outreach project with the Yaqui Tribe to assess the incidence of Asthma among Yaqui youth. The project was originally focused on particulate contamination (PM2.5). The tribe has decided to focus on ozone. The ESC has no funds for an ozone monitor and recommended that the Tribe contact Region 9 EPA.
We plan to use most of the carry-over money to support analysis of the Hopi Project data, and the collection efforts by the Swinomish and San Carlos Apache Tribes.
Aim 3: To work with the CEC, pilot project grantees and the community to translate data into action(s). To act on the community data, the community must understand the meaning of the data. The first step of using the data is return of individual results and expand environmental health literacy among project participants. As described under Aim 1, the ESC has developed material to effectively communicate information to individuals and expand environmental health literacy in the schools. We will continue the return of individual results and the school outreach program. Response to the individual materials (including evaluation) will aid the ESC and investigators on the development of community presentations of aggregate data and project results.
The Hopi Environmental Health Project: Over the past year, we discussed various outreach ideas with the Hopi Community Advisory Board (CAB). Our current approach is to use interactive posters that represent aspects of contaminants inside and outside homes and their impact on the community. We are setting up a trial run with the CAB using this approach on April 26th. Materials will be critiqued and reformulated for use in late August or early September at four community meeting held across Hopi Lands. We will explore filming these meetings and preparing video access for the community consistent with the Tribe’s openness.
The plan is to set up each meeting room as if it were a house. Following a brief introduction about the project, attendees will be invited to explore exhibits. Each area/”room” of the house will have operating equipment and a person to explain the collections. Interactive posters will contain summary results of contaminants collected from that room. A question board will be placed at each “room” for questions. After 45 minutes, the questions will be consolidated and addressed from the podium by Native people who worked on the project. Project investigators will be available to supplement any responses as needed. Additional information will be provided through the local newspaper and on radio talk shows if there is interest.
Two assumptions are inherent in this approach (1) this requires approval of a no cost extension for the community outreach. This is reasonable since the project got a late start to funding. (2) This assumes that by late August and early September the COVID-19 risks will be reduced and public meetings can resume. Creating film clips and posting them is another option if tribal approval is forthcoming.
A report of project findings is currently being prepared for tribal officials. Officials suggested that the final report should include responses to the project from the community. Officials want to know what the community thinks about the results and suggestions community members may have about addressing the results. Community questions, comments and evaluation results can be presented as part of the report that should be presented to the Tribal Council and other officials in the fall of 2020.
When proposed, the project was working with the Hopi Environmental Protection Office that has since been disbanded and the Hopi Department of Health and Human Services, which has undergone a recent change in directors. These changes have presented a number of changes for this collaborative project. The ESC will provide a significant support role in developing materials for the community outreach.
The Swinomish Pilot Project on Mold in Homes: Local issues at the Swinomish Tribe have delayed this project considerably. It looks like those issues have resolved and there is enthusiasm to pursue collection of data. The ESC is ready to work with the Tribe on their schedule (which may happen with carry-over monies). We will help the Tribe understand and utilize the data. At this time, they are interest in the results to support a tribal HUD proposal to remediate homes with mold problems.
The San Carlos Apache “Stop Burning” Project: The Exposure Science Core has completed its sampling as requested by the tribe and transferred all data to the tribe. We presented the sampling results at a Community meeting and will continue working with the tribe to develop Community Fliers to promote elimination of garbage burning. We will work with the Tribe to perform appropriate risk assessments using the locally derive pollution and behavioral data. We expect to use carryover money to pursue this effort in the coming year.
Pilot Project Core
Overview
The Pilot Project Core (PPC) of the Center for Indigenous Environmental Health Research (CIEHR) at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health serves to assist American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities in assessing and addressing environmental health disparities. The goal of the PPC is to expand the ability of AI/AN communities to evaluate environmental exposures and use this information to formulate approaches to reduce associated health disparities.
The PPC is comprised of five individuals:
- CIEHR Director: Jeff Burgess, MD, MS, MPH
- CIEHR Co-Director (CD/CDI): Stephanie Russo Carroll, DrPH, MPH
- Community Engagement Core Lead (CEC Lead): Nicole Yuan, PhD
- Exposure Science Core Lead (ESC Lead): Mary Kay O’Rourke, PhD
- AC Senior Program Coordinator: Rachelle Begay, MPH
Our pilot projects and tribal/community research partners include:
- Swinomish Pilot Project with Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in Washington
- Sitka Pilot Project with Sitka Tribe in Alaska
- San Carlos Apache Pilot Project with San Carlos Apache Tribe in Arizona
- JoRee LaFrance/Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee Pilot Project in Montana
Objectives of Research
The overall goal of the Pilot Projects Core (PPC) of the Center for Indigenous Environmental Health Research (CIEHR) is to expand the ability of AI/AN communities nationwide to evaluate environmental exposures and to use this information to formulate approaches to reduce associated health disparities. This will be achieved through three specific aims.
- Develop research concepts and proposals based on CBPR principles. The structure of the PPC is formulated to meet the needs of diverse AI/AN populations. Applying CBPR principles, the process will start with determination of research needs by the AI/AN partner, identified through community meetings with the Community Engagement Core (CEC) of CIEHR and through a partner request website within the Administrative Core (AC). The needs will be formulated into a pilot project concept, ensuring that the research is targeted on community concerns and will address exposures that the community is motivated to mitigate. Pilot project concepts will then be reviewed by the CIEHR Management Team. Following a decision to approve a pilot project concept, the Exposure Science Core (ESC) will work with tribal members to formulate a pilot project proposal and budget. The CEC will collaborate with the community to address environmental health literacy, resilience and policy implications. The proposal will then be evaluated by the CIEHR Internal Advisory Board for funding based on scientific merit and CIEHR program priority.
- Create combined community and academic teams to carry out the proposed research. For pilot project proposals selected for funding, Community Advisory Boards (CABs) will be established and will recruit AI/AN community members and students to be trained by the ESC to collect the specific data needed. The community team will also be involved in other stages of the research process, including data analysis. This approach will help build community capacity to address future environmental exposure concerns.
- Engage community resilience, improve EHL and support policy development. The CEC will work with the academic-community teams to identify and promote AI/AN strengths and resilience. The CEC will assist in increasing EHL and the translation and dissemination of findings to inform AI/AN policy development and public health strategies to mitigate adverse effects of the specific exposures being studied.
Aim 1. Develop research concepts & proposals based on CBPR principles
- Established contact and fostered relationships with rural and urban AI/AN communities, organizations, and institutions
- Maintained communication between all awardees to ensure smooth application process and deadlines met.
- CIEHR Exposure Science Core (ESC) collaborates with approved applications and target AI/AN communities
- AC Program Coordinator worked with CIEHR CD/CDI and UA accountant to develop documents, forms and procedures required to initiate the issuance of the pilot project awards/grants via the subaward or subcontract process.
- AC Program Coordinator provided guidance to pilot project teams/tribal teams during the subaward initiation process
- PPC team served as liaison between tribal pilot project teams and the University of Arizona (UA) Sponsored Projects Services (SPS) SubAwards team to address any outstanding issues or questions regarding the initiation process (documents, forms, etc)
- Deadlines set for submission of San Carlos Apache Pilot Project subaward initiation forms and documents
- CIEHR CD/CDI and the AC Program Coordinator worked with all Pilot Project Tribal/Community leads and research teams to secure any necessary tribal resolutions necessary to conduct the research activities outlined in submitted proposals.
Aim 2. Create combined community and academic teams to carry out the proposed research.
- Developed guidelines for the composition of the CIEHR teams that would assist Tribal/Community Research teams carry out the proposed research. CIEHR Teams will be comprised of the following:
- Lead – Will lead communication and coordination with Tribal/Community Research team
- Exposure Science (ES) Lead – Will provide guidance and expertise
- Community Engagement (CE) Lead – Will provide guidance and expertise
- The PPC Lead, Stephanie Russo Carroll, assembled the CIEHR team for the Swinomish Pilot Project (see Table 2), assigning CIEHR personnel with appropriate expertise to serve on the team.
- Swinomish Pilot Project ES Lead, Mary Kay O’Rourke provided consulting to Tribal/Community Lead as needed/requested
- The PPC Lead, Stephanie Russo Carroll, assembled the CIEHR team for the Sitka Pilot Project (see Table 2), assigning CIEHR personnel with appropriate expertise to serve on the team.
- Sitka Pilot Project ES Lead, Mary Kay O’Rourke provided consulting to Tribal/Community Lead as needed/requested
- The PPC Lead, Stephanie Russo Carroll, assembled the CIEHR academic team for the San Carlos Apache Pilot Project (see Table 3), assigning CIEHR personnel with appropriate expertise to serve on the team.
- San Carlos Apache Pilot Project ES Lead, Mary Kay O’Rourke provided consulting to Tribal/Community Lead as needed/requested
- The PPC Lead, Stephanie Russo Carroll, assembled the CIEHR academic team for the JoRee LaFrance/Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee Pilot (see Table 3), assigning CIEHR personnel with appropriate expertise to serve on the team.
- JoRee LaFrance/Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee Pilot CE Lead, Stephanie Russo Carroll and Karletta Chief provided consulting to Tribal/Community Lead as needed/requested
- AC program coordinator worked to extended timelines and modify subawards (with appropriate splits) for each funded pilot project – Swinomish and Sitka – for Year 5 of NIH and EPA funding
- Completed JoRee LaFrance/Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee Pilot subaward initiation forms and documents sent to UA SPS Subawards team for review.
- CD/CDI and PPC team determined that in lieu of written reports, the PPC would require that Pilot Project teams convene for Quarterly Check-in Phone Meetings. Quarterly Check-ins would convene: Community/Tribal Lead, PPC Lead, CIEHR team Lead, ES Lead, and CE Lead
- Collaborate with funded project teams to create Community Advisory Boards (CABs)
- Train AI/AN community members and students to collect specific data needed for each project
- Implement research and gather data
- Data analysis
Aim 3. Engage community resilience, improve EHL and support policy development
- CEC will collaborate with funded project teams to identify and promote AI/AN strengths and community resilience
- CEC will assist funded project teams to increase environmental health literacy (EHL)
- CEC will assist in translation and dissemination of findings
- Support development of public health strategies to mitigates adverse effects of identified exposures
Swinomish Pilot Project Year 5 Description and Activities
Title: Swinomish Pilot Project: Indoor Air Quality Assessment Project Start date: July 2017
Scott Andrews (06/17-07/17), Jacinda Mainord (07/17-06/18), Scott Andrews (06/18-12/18), Kelsey Larson (12/18-present)
CIEHR Team: Lead/ESC Lead: Mary Kay O’Rourke, CEC Lead: Dominic Clichee
Major Goals and Aims Develop capacity within Swinomish Department of Environmental Protection for excessive moisture prevention monitoring and remediation services.
Project aims are:
- Collect IAQ data for 60 homes
- Create and update IAQ database with assessments
- Determine remediation priorities
Engage community increase knowledge and capacity to prevent and reduce IAQ issues.
Activities and Accomplishment
- Aim 1: We have a total of 7 IAQ assessments since the project began. Obtaining interested participants has been difficult. Part of the problem is there is a lack of interest in having assessments done due to previous inability to address the mold when found. We have now started a relationship with the clinic to pass on our contact after diagnosis of asthma. We have also started a relationship with the Housing authority to ask for volunteers in tribal housing – and if not to have the housing authority grant us permission. We are also applying for HUD funding through ICDBG.
- Aim 2: No new assessments, no updates
- Aim 3: Priorities not determined – will be determined when number of assessments increase.
- Aim 4: Planning community listening event to hear about mold problems. Follow-up with information sharing.
Community Outreach: Meeting with the Housing Authority to add mold assessments to the list of checks done at the annual review of a house under their care.
Challenges: The position of Air Quality Analyst/Specialist has been difficult to maintain. Each time the position has been filled technical training was needed before assessments could begin leading to a longer delay.
Monitoring Harbor Seals for Heavy Metals and Mercury in Southeast Alaska
The project aims are:
- Harvest 3 harbor seals per year via STA’s Traditional Food Program, dissect specimens for tissue samples, including muscle & liver, at STAERL, ship samples to University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), & researchers at UAF Animal Resource Center will test for heavy metals and mercury;
- Report test results to the STA community & SEATOR partner tribes using strategies informed by collaboration with SEATOR partner tribes & communities;
Use the results of this pilot project to apply for future funding to build STA capability to test for contaminants in order to provide relevant and timely information on subsistence foods.
Aim 1: Three harbor seals were harvested in year one, and one harbor seal has been harvested for year two of the project period. All collected seals have been properly dissected and stored. Seals from year one of the project have been tested by the UAF Wildlife Toxicology lab, and the seal harvested in year two is being stored for testing at a future date.
Aim 2: The three harbor seals from year one of the project were analyzed by the UAF Wildlife Toxicology Lab. Results were presented on the SEATOR website. Format and verbiage of the report were informed by the UAF Wildlife Toxicology Lab personal and SEATOR partner Tribes.
Aim 3: STA has secured two additional funding sources to continue testing for contaminants in subsistence foods. The Biomedical Learning and Student Training (BLaST) program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has funded the necessary laboratory equipment to test for total mercury, a Milestone DMA -80. This equipment and necessary ancillary supplies is valued at $66,000. The Bureau of Indian Affairs has also funded STA’s proposal “Ocean and Coastal Management Planning By Assessing Mercury in Subsistence Marine Resources Using the Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Environmental Research Laboratory and the Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research Partnership”. This proposal is for $150,000 and will support 60 samples from SEATOR partners to be tested for mercury.
Community Outreach: The results from year one of the project have been released on the SEATOR website and been explicitly distributed to SEATOR partners. Additionally, results have been shared with University of Arizona (UA) partners. Future communication is planned after results from year two samples are available.
Challanges: Seal harvests have been delayed due to changes in climate and availability of seals. These delays have resulted in extension of project period.
'Stop Burning' Pilot Project
Establish the SCAT Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) act as the advisory group for the Stop Burning project
Determine specific air pollutants in SCAT by conducting air pollution measurements
SCAT EPA will survey the frequency of trash burning on SCAT lands; conduct educational activities addressing the hazards of air pollutants produced through burning; and evaluate the impact of the educational outreach through longitudinal follow-up with people completing the initial survey.
- Aim 1: Most of the work in 2017-2018 was spent doing the rewrite of the application and beginning the process of establishing the agreements between UA and SCAT – Financial Agreement, MOU and Tribal Resolution.
- Community Outreach: Meeting with the SCAT Interdisciplinary Team
JoRee LaFrance/Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee (CEHSC) Pilot Project
The project addresses environmental exposures by measuring how contaminant concentrations and their various forms differ seasonally with river discharge to understand potential health risks to the Apsáalooke people, cultural livelihood, and traditional practices.
This study seeks to improve Environmental Health Literacy by creating an awareness of the magnitude of impact of contamination and health risks. The ability to create an informational environmental toolkit and assess the baseline state of contamination is critical for addressing the environmental exposures impacting the Apsáalooke people.
- Aim 1: Most of the work in 2017-2018 was spent doing the rewrite of the application and beginning the process of establishing the agreements between UA and SCAT – Financial Agreement, MOU and Tribal Resolution.
- Community Outreach: Meeting with the SCAT Interdisciplinary Team
Project 1
The overall objective proposed project is to determine health risks and community impacts (e.g., consumption issues, threats to cultural values, spiritual concerns, and public health impacts) from exposure to environmental uranium and arsenic contamination of traditional food and water for Navajo communities. This will be achieved through three specific aims.
Characterize the extent of metal contamination in culturally significant food and water sources for two Navajo communities
Since August 2015, work to address Aim 1 has involved the acquisition of sheep/mutton samples from two Navajo communities, Cameron and Leupp and the off-reservation community of Eagar, Arizona. In the current grant year, the work was expanded to the community of Cove, AZ which is in the northeastern region of the Navajo Nation. The community of Cove requested assistance with assessing the level of contamination in their livestock (sheep, goats, cattle). This new work is in collaboration with an EPA grant that is from the Tronox settlement funds to the Navajo Nation. It is also in collaboration with the University of New Mexico, Montana State University Billings, and Diné College. The Cove area was heavily mined for uranium in the mid 1900’s; the mining was underground, and most of the mines have not been remediated.
Model dietary metal exposure and utilize the Indigenous Health Indicator to Assess Health Impact.
A survey of mutton consumption was accomplished in prior grant years in Cameron, Arizona by Dr. Tommy Rock. An additional survey was accomplished in the Cove community as part of a project in collaboration with Diné College and the University of New Mexico.
Development of a Community-Participatory Multi-Level Policy Intervention Model.
Project 2
The overall objectives of this community-based participatory research (CBPR) project is to collaborate with the Hopi Tribe to provide information on HH exposures that can inform tribal programs and policies. The proposed work will employ multiple methods to evaluate the HH exposome and assess the impact of hazards, moderated by physical and social factors, on respiratory health and obesity. This will be achieved through three specific aims.
Characterize the magnitude of environmental exposures to particulate matter (PM), As species, U and other contaminants from air, water, and food in households among the Hopi.
Evaluate how exposures are moderated by social determinants of health, social capital and community resilience.
Expand the Hopi Tribe’s capacity to address areas of environmental concern that can inform programs and policy.
Major activities
- Maintained appropriate tribal and university approvals and assured that all faculty members, students, staff, Hopi partners had completed CITI and community research training.
- Maintained strong communication with research partners and with additional community members to assure issues were identified in timely fashion.
- Dealt with substantial issues with equipment and specifically the regional sampling equipment of PM10 & 2.5:
- Implemented strategy for identifying measurement of social determinants of health, social capital and community resilience
- Finalized recruitment and sampling of households
- Developed materials and process for return of household and individual reports
- Analyzed environmental samples
- Maintained operational databases and data entry systems
- Continued addressing expansion of research and environmental capacity for Hopi Tribe
Future Activities:
Project 2.
We are requesting a no-cost extension for this project for one year beyond the current closure date. We are requesting this extension for two reasons: the original start date set by the agency was prior to the time of funds being received such that we have not had the entire time period for the planned recruitment, sampling, analysis, and dissemination. The second reason is the current disruptions caused with the COVID19 pandemic. Our field team and research laboratories are currently closed due to the outbreak. We cannot go to Hopi lands until at least late summer, 2020 when we will both return results to participating households and conduct tribal council dissemination session as required by our memorandum of agreements and for the completion of specific aim 3.
During this extension we will:
- Finalize laboratory analyses at the Arizona Laboratory for Environmental Contaminants at the Univ of AZ and assure all questionnaires and lab data are entered and verified and prepared for final data analyses.
- Hopi CAB and team members and ESC. Goal is to distribute in mid-summer, 2020 (dependent upon COVID19 and tribal approvals.
- Provide continuing medical education for local health providers about interpretation of lung function test results to additional tribal facilities (e.g. Tuba City IHS). Present results of the study to the local providers as some have asked to help at community meetings.
- Develop and deliver community presentations on study results. See the ESC report for further details on the plans for these meetings. The CAB will review these plans and analyses prior to presenting at the community sites. The CAB requested that these community sessions occur prior to presentations to the Tribal Council.
- Prepare manuscripts for external publications. All manuscripts and abstracts must be reviewed and approved by the Tribal Representative.
Journal Articles: 14 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
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Coksey E, Verhousgstraete M, Sneed S, Joseph C, Blohem J, Pakugana M, Joshwesonma L, Sheongva G, Hadeed S, Harris R, O'Rourke M. Drinking water and health assessment in a Northern Arizona community. HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT 2022;. |
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Hadeed S, O'Rourke M, Canales R, Joshweseoma L, Sehongva G, Paukgana M, Gonzalez-Figureroa E, Aslhmmari M, Burgess J, Harris R. Household and behavioral determinants of indoor PM2.5 in a rural solid fuel burning Native American community. INDOOR AIR 2021;31(6):2008-2019. |
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Corlin L, Rock T, Cordova J, Woodin M, Durant JL, Gute DM, Ingram J, Brugge D. Health effects and environmental justice concerns of exposure to uranium in drinking water. Current Environmental Health Reports 2017;3(4):434-442. |
R836151 (2017) R836151 (2019) R836151 (2020) |
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Mayer B, Joshweseoma L, Sehongva G. Environmental risk perceptions and community health:arsenic, air pollution, and threats to traditional values of the hopi tribe. Journal of community health 2019;44(5):896-902. |
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Carroll SR, Rodriguez-Lonebear D, Martinez A. Indigenous Data Governance:Strategies from United States Native Nations. Data Science Journal 2019;18(1)3; doi:10.5334/dsj-2019-031. |
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Credo J, Torkelson J, Rock T, Ingram JC. Quantification of elemental contaminants in unregulated water across western Navajo Nation. International journal of environmental research and public health 2019;16(15):2727. |
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Rock T, Camplain R, Teufel-Shone NI, Ingram JC. Traditional sheep consumption by Navajo people in Cameron, Arizona. International journal of environmental research and public health 2019;16(21):4195. |
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Jones MC, Credo JM, Ingram JC, Baldwin JA, Trotter Jr RT, Propper CR. Arsenic concentrations in ground and surface waters across Arizona including native lands. Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education 2020;169(1):44-60. |
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Yuan NP, Mayer BM, Joshweseoma L, Clichee D, Teufel-Shone NI. Development of Guidelines to Improve the Effectiveness of Community Advisory Boards in Health Research. Progress in Community Health Partnerships:Research, Education, and Action 2020;14(2):259-69. |
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Jones L, Credo J, Parnell R, Ingram JC. Dissolved uranium and arsenic in unregulated groundwater sources–Western Navajo Nation. Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education 2020;169(1):27-43. |
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Rock T, Ingram JC. Traditional Ecological Knowledge Policy Considerations for Abandoned Uranium Mines on Navajo Nation. Human Biology 2020;92(1):19-26. |
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Ingram JC, Jones L, Credo J, Rock T. Uranium and arsenic unregulated water issues on Navajo lands. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A:Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films 2020;38(3):031003. |
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Hadeed SJ, O'Rourke MK, Burgess JL, Harris RB, Canales RA. Imputation methods for addressing missing data in short-term monitoring of air pollutants. Science of The Total Environment 2020:139140. |
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Nanibaa'A G, Barton KS, Porter KM, Mai T, Burke W, Carroll SR. Access and management:indigenous perspectives on genomic data sharing. Ethnicity & Disease. 2019 Dec 12;29(Supp):659-68. |
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Relevant Websites:
Center for Indigenous Environmental Health Research (CIEHR) Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original Abstract Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R836151C001 Health and Wellbeing Impact of Contamination of Traditional Food and Water on Navajo
R836151C002 Cumulative Environmental Effects: Expanding research with Hopi Tribe
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.
Project Research Results
- Final Report
- 2019 Progress Report
- 2018 Progress Report
- 2017 Progress Report
- 2016 Progress Report
- Original Abstract
14 journal articles for this center