Reducing uranium and toxic metal exposure in Navajo and Pueblo communities
Community Engagement Core
Scientists and tribal communities are working together to lower exposure to uranium, arsenic, vanadium and other mine-related metals for people living near abandoned uranium mines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11124945 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I live near abandoned uranium mines, and this project brings my community into every step of the work by combining our Traditional Ecological Knowledge with Western scientific methods. Researchers will measure metals in air, soil, water, and food and share results with community leaders. The team partners with Blue Gap-Tachee, Pueblo of Laguna, Red Water Pond Road, and Cameron Chapter to design culturally appropriate prevention and intervention strategies. Outreach, monitoring, and locally guided actions aim to reduce releases of hazardous metals and protect community health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are residents, community leaders, or agricultural families living near the partnered abandoned uranium mine sites in the Navajo Nation and Pueblo of Laguna.
Not a fit: People who live far from the partnered communities or whose cancers have no link to environmental metal exposure are unlikely to see direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lower local exposures to hazardous metals and reduce pollution-related cancer and other health risks.
How similar studies have performed: Prior community-led exposure monitoring and remediation projects have reduced risks in other mining-impacted areas, and combining Traditional Ecological Knowledge with scientific monitoring is an increasingly used but still evolving approach.
Where this research is happening
Albuquerque, United States
- University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr — Albuquerque, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shuey, Christopher L — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Shuey, Christopher L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.