title: Environmental exposures to metals in Native communities and implications for child development: basis for the Navajo birth cohort study.
abstract: Two disparate statistics often cited for the Western United States raise concern about risks for developmental disabilities in Native American children. First, 13 of the states with the highest percentage of Native American population are located in the Western United States (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 ). Second, more than 161,000 abandoned hard-rock mines are located in 12 Western states (General Accounting Office, 2014 ). Moreover, numerous studies have linked low-level metals exposure with birth defects and developmental delays. Concern has emerged among tribal populations that metals exposure from abandoned mines might threaten development of future generations.
authors.affiliation: a University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center , Albuquerque , New Mexico , USA.
authors.forename: Johnnye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: a University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center , Albuquerque , New Mexico , USA.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.affiliation: a University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center , Albuquerque , New Mexico , USA.
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burnette
authors.affiliation: a University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center , Albuquerque , New Mexico , USA.
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benally
authors.affiliation: b Growing in Beauty, Window Rock Agency , Navajo Nation Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services , Window Rock , Arizona , USA.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seanez
authors.affiliation: c Uranium Impact Assessment Program , Southwest Research and Information Center , Albuquerque , New Mexico , USA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shuey
authors.affiliation: d Tachee Uranium Concerns Committee , Blue Gap , Arizona , USA.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nez
authors.affiliation: d Tachee Uranium Concerns Committee , Blue Gap , Arizona , USA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nez
authors.affiliation: d Tachee Uranium Concerns Committee , Blue Gap , Arizona , USA.
authors.forename: Seraphina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nez
mesh_terms: D001130:Arizona; D015331:Cohort Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000208:ethnology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008670:Metals / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D008906:Mining; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000208:ethnology; D062486:Public Health Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D008670:Metals
keywords: Native American; birth defects; children; developmental delay; disabilities; exposure; health promotion; metals