Traditional Ecological Knowledge Policy Considerations for Abandoned Uranium Mines on Navajo Nation

Abandoned Uranium Mines Project Atlas Project Overview

The Navajo Nation is located on the Colorado Plateau and encompasses over 25,000 square miles across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The distinctive physiography of this region has resulted in a major mining area for uranium. The Navajo Nation includes intensely dissected rocky regions and has elevations that range from about 3,000 feet to slightly over 10,000 feet. The region is known for a wid...

Advancing smoke-free policy adoption on the Navajo Nation

BACKGROUND Comprehensive smoke-free laws are effective at protecting non-smokers and reducing tobacco use, yet they are not widely adopted by tribal governments. METHODS A series of smoke-free policy initiatives on the Navajo Nation, beginning in 2008, were reviewed to identify key issues, successes and setbacks. RESULTS It has been essential that proposed policies acknowledge the Navajo pe...

Once Upon a Mine: The Legacy of Uranium on the Navajo Nation

Elevated Arsenic and Uranium Concentrations in Unregulated Water Sources on the Navajo Nation, USA

Regional water pollution and use of unregulated water sources can be an important mixed metals exposure pathway for rural populations located in areas with limited water infrastructure and an extensive mining history. Using censored data analysis and mapping techniques we analyzed the joint geospatial distribution of arsenic and uranium in unregulated water sources throughout the Navajo Nation,...

Ecological Considerations of Depleted Uranium Munitions

Ecological consequences of depleted uranium (DU) released to the environment as a result of military use of DU munitions were appraised by reviewing pertinent literature. Estimates were based upon ecosystem responses to natural uranium, which is more soluble and more toxic than DU. It was concluded that the major ecological hazard from expended uranium munitions will be chemical toxicity rather...