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FALLON, NEVADA, CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA: A CASE STUDY IN MEDICAL GEOLOGY

FALLON, NEVADA, CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA: A CASE STUDY IN MEDICAL GEOLOGY. Paul Sheppard Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research (dendrochronology). But Wait, There’s More …. AHSC colleagues Dr. Mark Witten, Pediatrics (ret.) Dr. Clark Lantz, Anatomy (admin.) Joint faculty, Zuckerman Public Health ACC

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FALLON, NEVADA, CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA: A CASE STUDY IN MEDICAL GEOLOGY

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  1. FALLON, NEVADA, CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA: A CASE STUDY IN MEDICAL GEOLOGY Paul Sheppard Laboratory ofTree-RingResearch (dendrochronology)

  2. But Wait, There’s More … • AHSC colleagues • Dr. Mark Witten, Pediatrics (ret.) • Dr. Clark Lantz, Anatomy (admin.) • Joint faculty, Zuckerman Public Health • ACC • CPC • Huh?

  3. Medical Geology • (Re)-emerging interdisciplinary scientific field • Study of exposure to, or deficiency of, trace elements, e.g., in dust, water, food • Effects on human health Hydrobiogeochemoepidemiopathoecology

  4. Ron Fuge: Editor,Applied Geochemistry • Olle Selinus: My working editor

  5. Fallon Leukemia • 17 cases, 1997-2004 • 27x national rate • 1 in 232 million • “Most convincing cluster ever reported”

  6. Environmental Analysis Ecologic study vs. case-comparison Multi-element analysis Controls Multiple lines of evidence Replication Airborne environment

  7. Airborne Dust

  8. Fallon Airborne Dust • Many samplers • Many days • Five towns • Project repeated • New equipment

  9. Tungsten and cobalt • Elevated in Fallon • Variable through time

  10. Surface Dust

  11. Fallon Surface Dust Tungsten, cobalt • Variable across space, mostly low • Elevated neartown center • Hard-metal industry

  12. Lichens

  13. Fallon Lichens • 10 in town • Rattlesnake Hill • 20 out of town • All directions

  14. Fallon Lichens ` ` • Most Elements • Slightly higher in Fallon • Tungsten, cobalt • Much higherin Fallon • Not higher in Fallon rocks

  15. Tree Leaf Chemistry • Clip a branchlet of leaves • Rinse leaves in water, save water • Measure rinsate for contaminants • Divide through by mass of dried leaves • Map out concentrations • Repeat every year,citizen science

  16. Fallon Leaf Chemistry

  17. Fallon Leaf Chemistry

  18. Tree rings

  19. Fallon Tree Rings • Trees in Fallon • Trees in other towns • Last 15 years

  20. Fallon Tree Rings • Tungsten increased since mid 1990s • Cobalt high through-out • Other metals not noteworthy

  21. Environmental Research (me) • Fallon distinctive environmentally • Tungsten and cobalt elevated relative to other towns, outlying desert • Airborne particles

  22. Biomedical Side • Tungsten can’t be linked to leukemia from en-vironmental data alone • Biomedical research suggestive • IARC: W and Co probably carcinogenic • Biomedicalresearch (Witten) • Public health theory • Research by others

  23. Relevant title • Appropriate journal • Independent authors

  24. High tungsten burden in Fallon • Tungsten exposure in Fallon • Leukemia cluster in Fallon

  25. Tungsten biomedical treatment level based on environmental finding

  26. Tungsten of high interest in cancer research

  27. EPA Earmark: Fallon

  28. What’s next? • Other sites with illness • Other sites with pollution

  29. Funding • Cancer Research & Prevention Foundation • Gerber Foundation

  30. Funding Dilemma • NIEHS: Understand how combined environmental exposures affect disease pathogenesis • EPA: Protect human health and the environment • Research, or mere monitoring?

  31. Thanks for having me. Comments, questions?

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