# UNM Metal Exposure Toxicity Assessment on Tribal Lands in the Southwest (METALS) Superfund Research Program

> **NIH NIH P42** · UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR · 2020 · $1,271,267

## Abstract

OVERALL – SUMMARY
The UNM Metal Exposure and Toxicity Assessment on Tribal Lands in the Southwest (METALS) Superfund
Research Program (SRP) and Training Center will focus on risk reduction for Native Americans exposed to
hazardous metals mixtures from abandoned uranium mine waste. This will be the ONLY SRP Center focused
on risks to Native American communities. Specifically, UNM METALS will focus on site-specific
physical/mineralogic/biogeochemical properties of the waste that alter immune function and DNA repair in tribal
populations. The biomedical research proposed in UNM METALS focuses on major uncertainties in these
exposure:outcome relationships, while environmental projects complement this research by exploiting
characteristics that impact mobility and toxicity to develop and test novel cost-effective metals immobilization
and removal strategies to reduce risks in ways compatible with tribal culture, and design risk
avoidance/warning systems. Recognizing that complete remediation of these sites under CERCLA remains
decades away, METALS will use multi-directional community engagement and research translation cores to
develop and implement trans-generational approaches to risk communication and risk avoidance that integrate
indigenous learning models (e.g. tribal ecological knowledge) and Western science. The METALS Center will
integrate training of junior faculty and graduate students with multi-directional training of community members
and research staff so that local knowledge of mining impacts and health problems inform air and water
monitoring needs to support the environmental and biomedical research projects and build a foundation of
transdisciplinary, partnered research for the next generation. METALS will utilize committed pilot funding from
the UNM Cancer Center, the HSC Research Office, and our Environmental Health Signature Program to build
transdisicplinary partnerships that expand our team to respond to additional health outcomes of community
concern. The Center will expand ongoing, developed partnerships with three Native American communities
living in close proximity to unique waste sites. The first is Laguna Pueblo living with the abandoned > 8000
acre openpit Jackpile Mine listed on the Superfund National Priorities List, and two Navajo communities living
in proximity to two separate sites being addressed through CERCLA assessment as part of the USEPA
Congressionally mandated Five-Year Plan to Address Uranium Contamination on the Navajo Nation: Red
Water Pond Road adjacent to the North East Church Rock Mine; and Tachee-Blue Gap community living next
to the Claim 28 waste site. In summary, we will work closely with communities, tribal and federal agencies to
develop informed Superfund prioritization based on site-specific factors identified through our research, and
develop solutions that build on site properties to immobilize and remove metals, reduce risk in ways that are
holistic, predictable and sustainable, and test bio...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9903340
- **Project number:** 5P42ES025589-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Johnnye L Lewis
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,271,267
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-15 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9903340

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9903340, UNM Metal Exposure Toxicity Assessment on Tribal Lands in the Southwest (METALS) Superfund Research Program (5P42ES025589-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9903340. Licensed CC0.

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