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Community Engaged Cumulative Risk Assessment of Exposure to Inorganic Well Water Contaminants, Crow Reservation, Montana

Author

Listed:
  • Margaret J. Eggers

    (Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, P.O. Box 173980, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
    Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA)

  • John T. Doyle

    (Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
    Crow Water Quality Project, P.O. Box 370, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA)

  • Myra J. Lefthand

    (Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA)

  • Sara L. Young

    (Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA)

  • Anita L. Moore-Nall

    (Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, P.O. Box 173480, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA)

  • Larry Kindness

    (Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA)

  • Roberta Other Medicine

    (Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
    Environmental Health Department, Crow/Northern Cheyenne Indian Health Service Hospital, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA)

  • Timothy E. Ford

    (School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 715 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003, USA)

  • Eric Dietrich

    (Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, P.O. Box 173980, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA)

  • Albert E. Parker

    (Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, P.O. Box 173980, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
    Department of Mathematical Sciences, Montana State University, P.O. Box 173980, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA)

  • Joseph H. Hoover

    (Health Sciences Center, MSC09 5360, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA)

  • Anne K. Camper

    (Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, P.O. Box 173980, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
    Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
    College of Engineering, Montana State University, P.O. Box 173980, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA)

Abstract

An estimated 11 million people in the US have home wells with unsafe levels of hazardous metals and nitrate. The national scope of the health risk from consuming this water has not been assessed as home wells are largely unregulated and data on well water treatment and consumption are lacking. Here, we assessed health risks from consumption of contaminated well water on the Crow Reservation by conducting a community-engaged, cumulative risk assessment. Well water testing, surveys and interviews were used to collect data on contaminant concentrations, water treatment methods, well water consumption, and well and septic system protection and maintenance practices. Additive Hazard Index calculations show that the water in more than 39% of wells is unsafe due to uranium, manganese, nitrate, zinc and/or arsenic. Most families’ financial resources are limited, and 95% of participants do not employ water treatment technologies. Despite widespread high total dissolved solids, poor taste and odor, 80% of families consume their well water. Lack of environmental health literacy about well water safety, pre-existing health conditions and limited environmental enforcement also contribute to vulnerability. Ensuring access to safe drinking water and providing accompanying education are urgent public health priorities for Crow and other rural US families with low environmental health literacy and limited financial resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Margaret J. Eggers & John T. Doyle & Myra J. Lefthand & Sara L. Young & Anita L. Moore-Nall & Larry Kindness & Roberta Other Medicine & Timothy E. Ford & Eric Dietrich & Albert E. Parker & Joseph H. H, 2018. "Community Engaged Cumulative Risk Assessment of Exposure to Inorganic Well Water Contaminants, Crow Reservation, Montana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-34, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:1:p:76-:d:125680
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Elisabeth Pfleger & Hans Drexler & Regina Lutz, 2024. "Health Literacy and Environmental Risks Focusing Air Pollution: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Christine Martin & Vanessa W. Simonds & Sara L. Young & John Doyle & Myra Lefthand & Margaret J. Eggers, 2021. "Our Relationship to Water and Experience of Water Insecurity among Apsáalooke (Crow Indian) People, Montana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-20, January.
    3. John T. Doyle & Larry Kindness & James Realbird & Margaret J. Eggers & Anne K. Camper, 2018. "Challenges and Opportunities for Tribal Waters: Addressing Disparities in Safe Public Drinking Water on the Crow Reservation in Montana, USA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-13, March.
    4. Kathleen M. Gray & Victoria Triana & Marti Lindsey & Benjamin Richmond & Anna Goodman Hoover & Chris Wiesen, 2021. "Knowledge and Beliefs Associated with Environmental Health Literacy: A Case Study Focused on Toxic Metals Contamination of Well Water," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-14, September.
    5. Walter M. Warren-Vega & Armando Campos-Rodríguez & Ana I. Zárate-Guzmán & Luis A. Romero-Cano, 2023. "A Current Review of Water Pollutants in American Continent: Trends and Perspectives in Detection, Health Risks, and Treatment Technologies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-18, March.
    6. Steve Hamner & Bonnie L. Brown & Nur A. Hasan & Michael J. Franklin & John Doyle & Margaret J. Eggers & Rita R. Colwell & Timothy E. Ford, 2019. "Metagenomic Profiling of Microbial Pathogens in the Little Bighorn River, Montana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-18, March.

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