Environmental endocrine disruption, resulting from exposure to hormone-active chemicals in environmental samples, poses a significant public health risk through wastewater handling and reuse. Despite extensive surveillance globally of both health and environmental impacts, the presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals in water and wastewater has been understudied in Ghana, where greywater is commonly reused in the home. In this study, a scoping review of 87 studies was conducted to determine the most critical greywater pollutants in Ghana, greywater reuse practices, and the prevalent endocrine disorders in Ghana. Next, an in silico tool (VirtualToxLab) was used to evaluate the binding of greywater contaminants (n = 59) to 12 target proteins involved in environmental endocrine disruption to assess endocrine disrupting potential. Results showed pollutants found in greywater bound moderate to strongly to receptors involved in reproductive and metabolic disorders. Analyzing the most probable source of the pollutant (from the bathroom, kitchen, laundry), bathroom-sourced pollutants were found to exhibit the highest risk of endocrine disruption due to the presence in personal care products. This evaluation was used to assess the potential for greywater reuse considering source separation as well as the possible relationship between endocrine disorders in Ghana and exposure to greywater contaminants. Further in vivo and in vitro research into the most critical pollutants is crucial for developing effective removal technologies to treat greywater and protect public health in Ghana.

Weak, but environmentally relevant concentrations of contaminants can have subtle, yet important, impacts on organisms, which are often overlooked due to the lack of acute impacts and the timing of exposure. Thus, recognizing simple, non-invasive markers of contamination events is essential for early detection and addressing the effects of exposure to weak environmental contaminants. Here, we tested whether exposure to an environmentally relevant concentration of Bisphenol-A (BPA), a common and persistent contaminant in aquatic systems, affects the lateralization of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio), a widely used model organism in ecotoxicology. We found that 73.5% of adult zebrafish displayed a left-side bias when they approached a visual cue, but that those exposed to weak BPA (0.02 mg/L) for 7 days did not exhibit laterality. Only 47.1% displayed a left-side bias. We found no differences in activity level and visual sensitivity, motor and sensory mechanisms, that regulate lateralized responses and that were unaffected by weak BPA exposure. These findings indicate the reliability of laterality as a simple measure of contaminant exposure and for future studies of the detailed mechanisms underlying subtle and complex behavioral effects to pollutants.

ABSTRACT Viral detection methodologies used for wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) studies have a broad range of efficacies. The complex matrix and low viral particle load in wastewater emphasize the importance of the concentration method. This study focused on comparing three commonly used virus concentration methods: polyethylene glycol precipitation (PEG), immuno-magnetic nanoparticles (IMNP), and electronegative membrane filtration (EMF). Influent and effluent wastewater samples were processed by the methods and analyzed by DNA/RNA quantification and sequencing for the detection of human viruses. SARS-COV-2, Astrovirus, and Hepatitis C virus were detected by all the methods in both sample types. PEG precipitation resulted in the detection of 20 types of viruses in influent and 16 types in effluent samples. The corresponding number of virus types detected was 21 and 11 for IMNP, and 16 and 8 for EMF. Certain viruses were unique to only one concentration method. For example, PEG detected three types of viruses in influent and six types in effluent compared to IMNP, which detected seven types in influent and one type in effluent samples. However, the EMF method appeared to be the least effective, detecting three types in influent and none in effluent samples. Rotavirus was detected in influent sample using IMNP method, whereas EMF and PEG methods failed to yield a similar outcome. Consequently, the potential false negative results pose a risk to the credibility of WBE applications. Therefore, implementation of a proper concentration technique is critical to minimize method biases and ensure accurate viral profiling in WBE studies. IMPORTANCE In recent years, significant research efforts have been focused on the development of viral detection methodology for wastewater-based epidemiology studies, showing a range of variability in detection efficacies. A proper methodology is essential for an appropriate evaluation of disease prevalence and community health in such studies and necessitates designing a concentration method based on the target pathogenic virus. There remains a need for comparative performance evaluations of methods in the context of detection efficiencies. This study highlights the significant impact of sample matrix, viral structure, and nucleic acid composition on the efficacy of viral concentration methods. Assessing WBE techniques to ensure accurate detection and understanding of viral presence within wastewater samples is critical for revealing viral profiles in municipality wastewater samples.

Mentoring programs for Native American faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are critical toward developing, recruiting, and retaining Native American members of the professoriate. This article describes the development and implementation of an Indigenous Mentoring program for Native American faculty in STEM. Indigenous research methodology and method approaches were used to cogenerate the Indigenous mentoring program, and qualitative description and interpretive focus group methods were applied. Interviews were conducted with 23 Native American faculty-STEM to inform positive mentoring practices to increase their retention and success in STEM fields. A content analysis of the interview data identified common themes, and eight Native American faculty-STEM (program fellows) participated in an interpretive focus group to review data and findings and to codevelop the components and content of the Indigenous mentoring program. Based on these findings, the Indigenous mentoring program included four components: (a) informal, peer-to-peer gatherings; (b) formal group gatherings; (c) attendance at a scientific meeting; and (d) development of a formalized mentoring relationship. Process and outcome evaluations were completed. Program fellows (N = 8) were from two tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) and one predominantly White institution. The Indigenous mentoring program was 9 months in duration, with eight informal, peer-to-peer gatherings, and three formal group mentoring sessions. Findings indicate the program fellows found the Indigenous mentoring program to be useful and meaningful for the career advancement and success of Native American faculty and instructors in STEM fields. The program can serve as an effective platform for improving mentoring, retention, and success of Native American faculty-STEM and increase their numbers in STEM disciplines.

Background Limited information is available on the connectivity of Tribal communities to wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs). This is important for understanding current sanitation infrastructure which drives public health and community construction, knowledge of potential routes of exposure through lack of infrastructure and/or discharging facilities, and opportunities to assess community health through wastewater-based surveillance (WBS). Objectives The objective of this work was to assess current wastewater infrastructure for 574 Federally Recognized Indian Tribes (FRITs) in the United States (US) to determine the number and location of facilities on or adjacent to Tribal reservations and Off-Reservation Trust Lands, with the goal of determining the feasibility of employing wastewater-based surveillance within these communities and to identify areas with inadequate sanitation infrastructure. Methods Here, we identified available National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) wastewater discharge permits in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Compliance History Online database to assess proximity to and within spatial boundaries of Tribal lands. These data were coupled to race data and tribal spatial boundary information from the US Census Bureau. Results 94 FRITs have registered NPDES permits within Tribal boundaries including a total of 522 facilities. 210 of these are American Indian (AI)-serving (>50% AI) with the ability to reach 135,000 AI-people through the wastewater network to provide community health assessments via WBS. Of the remaining facilities, 153 predominantly serve non-Tribal populations raising concerns about infrastructure placement and indigenous sovereignty. 523 FRITs were identified as without permitted discharging WWTFs, which may suggest inadequate or alternative infrastructure. Impact statement Here, multiple data sources including permit information from the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System and US Census Bureau data were used to determine the number of wastewater treatment facilities on or adjacent to Tribal lands and how many community members were connected to those municipal systems. This information was used to assess which Tribal communities may be a viable option for wastewater public health surveillance techniques and were used to answer supplemental questions related to basic sanitation and environmental justice concerns.

During UCMR 1-4, nearly 10 million Americanswere exposedto pollutants that bound strongly to endocrine disrupting chemicals. Molecular docking has been used for the high-throughputscreeningof chemical interactions with target proteins in pharmaceutical andenvironmental applications. We determined the in silico binding affinity, protein-chemical interactions, toxic potential,and hormone equivalents of 96 organic Unregulated Contaminant MonitoringRule (UCMR 1-4) organic contaminants and agonist/antagoniststandards with 10 nuclear receptors associated with environmentalendocrine disruption. Endocrine-active pollutants and their toxicpotentials were mapped across United States Public Water Systems (PWS).The percent of inactive UCMR chemicals varied greatly, from & SIM;38%for the thyroid system (TR & alpha; and TR & beta;) up to & SIM;70%for the estrogen system (ER & alpha; and ER & beta;), due to the presenceof charged amino acid residues within the receptor's ligandbinding domains. Further, a majority of UCMR-detectable public watersystems (4,900/5,229) contained thyroid-active chemicals, includingperfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), haloacetic acids,and herbicide degradates. Most UCMR chemical classes were modeledwith low toxic potential in monitored PWSs serving populations thatvaried between a few thousand and 100 million people. Insecticides,pesticides, herbicides, hormones, and PFAS had moderate toxic potentialimpacting a population of 10,000-20 million people. The potentialfor endocrine disruption by unregulated chemicals in public watersystems calls for a further risk analysis of cumulative exposures.

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEEditorialNEXTEnvironmental Science for the Betterment of AllJacqueline MacDonald Gibson*Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson*[email protected]More by Jacqueline MacDonald Gibsonhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5468-0713, Khalid K OsmanKhalid K OsmanMore by Khalid K Osman, Otakuye Conroy-BenOtakuye Conroy-BenMore by Otakuye Conroy-Ben, and Amanda GiangAmanda GiangMore by Amanda GiangCite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. 2023, 57, 36, 13267–13269Publication Date (Web):July 27, 2023Publication History Received10 July 2023Published online27 July 2023Published inissue 12 September 2023https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c05429https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c05429editorialACS PublicationsCopyright © Published 2023 by American Chemical Society. This publication is available under these Terms of Use. Request reuse permissions This publication is free to access through this site. Learn MoreArticle Views1494Altmetric-Citations-LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail PDF (4 MB) Get e-AlertscloseSUBJECTS:Air pollution,Color,Environmental pollution,Environmental science,Impurities Get e-Alerts

Vol. 130, No. 12 Research LetterOpen AccessFederal PFAS Testing and Tribal Public Water Systemsis companion ofInvited Perspective: Tribal Water Issues Exemplified by the Navajo Nation Kira Mok, Derrick Salvatore, Martha Powers, Phil Brown, Maddy Poehlein, Otakuye Conroy-Ben, and Alissa Cordner Kira Mok Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Search for more papers by this author , Derrick Salvatore Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Search for more papers by this author , Martha Powers Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Search for more papers by this author , Phil Brown Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Search for more papers by this author , Maddy Poehlein PFAS Project Lab, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Search for more papers by this author , Otakuye Conroy-Ben School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA Search for more papers by this author , and Alissa Cordner Address correspondence to Alissa Cordner, Whitman College, 345 Boyer Ave., Walla Walla, WA 99362 USA. Telephone: (509) 527-5124. Email: E-mail Address: [email protected] https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5223-2848 Department of Sociology, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington, USA Search for more papers by this author Published:14 December 2022CID: 127701https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11652Cited by:1AboutSectionsPDF ToolsDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InReddit IntroductionSystemic environmental health disparities exist for residents of Tribal Nations in the United States, who are disproportionately burdened by diseases and experience lower life expectancy compared to non-Native individuals.1 Research on Tribal drinking water is limited but includes documentation of high rates of unsafe levels of inorganic contaminants, nitrates, and foul odor and taste.2Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a large class of persistent, toxic, and water-soluble chemicals, are a leading concern for safe drinking water.3 Exposure to PFAS has been associated with decreased antibody response, decreased fetal and infant growth, and increased risk of kidney cancer, and the evidence also suggests a relationship between PFAS exposure and the risk of breast cancer, testicular cancer, and thyroid disease.3 An estimated 200 million U.S. residents receive PFAS-contaminated public drinking water,4 but no federal regulatory drinking water standards currently exist.5 Large gaps exist in knowledge about PFAS contamination on Tribal lands. To explore these gaps, we conducted a comparative analysis of past and future drinking water testing for Tribal and non-Tribal public water systems (PWS).MethodsFrom 2013 to 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) conducted drinking water sampling through Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 3 (UCMR3) for 21 contaminants, including six PFAS, in community water systems and nontransient noncommunity PWS serving more than 10,000 people (large PWS), as well as 800 PWS serving <10,000 people (small PWS).6 To analyze PWS tested for PFAS in UCMR3 and the populations they served, we obtained data on PWS that submitted data to the U.S. EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and were listed as active in quarter 1 of 2013. We identified Tribal PWS as those with a Native American owner type in SDWIS in 2013.The U.S. EPA’s planned UCMR5 (2023–2025) will sample PWS serving >3,300 people and a random sample of 800 PWS serving ≤3,300 people.7 To calculate the projected inclusion of Tribal PWS in UCMR5, we analyzed PWS that submitted data to SDWIS and were listed as active in quarter 2 of 2022, which was the most up-to-date PWS data available at time of submission. We assumed that all PWS serving >3,300 people will be sampled. We projected the random sampling of 800 small PWS based on the proportion and average populations served by Tribal and non-Tribal PWS serving ≤3,300 people. Analysis was conducted in RStudio (version 2021.09.3; RStudio, PBC).To determine the extent of additional PFAS testing on Tribal lands, we communicated with U.S. EPA representatives to identify sampling plans, engagement with state programs, and funding sources.ResultsTable 1 shows that 3.2% (n=27) of Tribal PWS were tested for PFAS in UCMR3, in comparison with 7.2% (n=4,892) of non-Tribal systems. A total of 27.8% (n=352,790) of the population served by Tribal PWS were included in UCMR3, in comparison with 79.1% (n=242,265,582) of the population served by non-Tribal PWS. No data were provided for 16.7% (n=3) of large Tribal PWS and 4.3% (n=175) of large non-Tribal PWS due to missing data or lack of sampling in UCMR3. Additionally, of PWS sampled in UCMR3, no PFAS results were provided for 18.2% (n=6) of Tribal PWS and 11.5% (n=637) of non-Tribal PWS due to missing data or lack of sampling for PFAS. The population served by Tribal PWS are disproportionately served by small systems, with 68.5% (n=869,892) of the population served by Tribal PWS receiving water from PWS serving ≤10,000 people, in comparison with just 18.8% (n=57,726,562) of the population served by non-Tribal PWS.Table 1 Analysis of completed (UCMR3) and planned (UCMR5) sampling inclusion of PWS serving Tribal and non-Tribal populations.TribalNon-TribalSystems [n (%)]Population [n (%)]Systems [n (%)]Population [n (%)]Total PWS, 2013 SDWIS8471,269,15367,864306,347,928 Serving >10,000 people18 (2.1%)399,261 (31.5%)4,258 (6.3%)248,621,366 (81.2%) Serving ≤10,000 people829 (97.9%)869,892 (68.5%)63,606 (93.7%)57,726,562 (18.8%)PWS sampled for PFAS in UCMR3 (2013–2015)27 (3.2%)352,790 (27.8%)4,892 (7.2%)242,265,582 (79.1%) PWS serving >10,000 people reporting data for PFAS (% of same-size PWS)15 (83.3%)305,466 (76.5%)4,077 (95.7%)239,356,389 (96.3%) PWS serving ≤10,000 people reporting data for PFAS (% of same-size PWS)12 (1.4%)47,324 (5.4%)815 (1.3%)2,909,193 (5.0%)Total PWS, 2022 SDWIS8551,400,19765,904322,312,628 Serving >3,300 people98 (11.6%)896,474 (63.8%)9,553 (14.5%)294,503,029 (91.3%) Serving ≤3,300 people757 (88.5%)503,723 (36.0%)56,351 (85.5%)27,802,557 (8.6%)PWS projected to be sampled for PFAS in UCMR5 (2023–2025)109 (12.9%)903,530 (64.3%)10,342 (15.7%)294,510,071 (91.5%) PWS serving >3,300 people to be sampled for PFAS (% of same-size PWS)98 (100%)896,474 (100%)9,553 (100%)294,510,071 (100%) PWS serving ≤3,300 people to be sampled for PFAS (% of same-size PWS)11 (1.5%)7,056 (1.4%)789 (1.4%)389,473 (1.4%)Note: Sources include U.S. EPA.6–7 PFAS, per-and polyfluoroalkyl Substances; PWS, public water systems; SDWIS, Safe Drinking Water Information System; UCMR, Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule; U.S. EPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.We projected that 12.7% (n=109) of Tribal PWS and 15.7% (n=10,342) of non-Tribal PWS will be sampled for PFAS in 2023–2025 (Table 1). Just 64.5% (n=903,503) of the population served by Tribal PWS will be included in UCMR5; in comparison, 91.5% (n=294,899,544) of the population served by non-Tribal PWS will be included in UCMR5. Over one-third (36.0%, n=503,723) of the population served by Tribal PWS receives water from PWS serving ≤3,300 people, in comparison with just 8.6% (n=27,802,557) of the population served by non-Tribal PWS.Each U.S. EPA region has a Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) State and Tribal Support Program Grant that provides regulatory support and funding related to PWS and emerging contaminants on Tribal lands.8 Per conversations with representatives, 6 of 10 U.S. EPA regions plan to conduct “limited, voluntary” sampling in Tribal PWS for PFAS in 2021–22 (Table 2).9Table 2 Tribal drinking water PFAS testing under Public Water System Supervision State and Tribal Support Program grants for emerging contaminants.U.S. EPA RegionPFAS sampling plannedPriority contaminants by regionStatus of PFAS sampling1NoNANo planned PFAS sampling2YesPFASSampling will be conducted for two Tribes3NoNANo Tribal PWS in region4NoNASampling may be conducted by U.S. EPA contractor5YesPFASSampling projected to begin early 20226NoManganeseNo planned PFAS sampling7YesPFASSampling completed in 2021, results not yet available8YesManganese, PFASSampling projected to begin early 20229YesPFASStarted sampling late 2021, projected to continue through 202210YesPFASSampling projected to begin early 2022Note: Testing results may have been released since this paper was finalized. Results available at (reference 9). Source: U.S. EPA Tribal Drinking Water Headquarters and Regions, personal communications, 2021–2022. NA, not available; PFAS, per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances; U.S. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency.U.S. EPA representatives identified policy, funding, and staffing as limiting factors related to the implementation of such PFAS testing. Multiple regions anticipated challenges should PFAS be detected in Tribal PWS, citing the absence of current regulations for PFAS and insufficient remediation funding. Representatives also pointed to a lack of U.S. EPA-certified labs and the need to divide scarce resources between multiple priority contaminants (U.S. EPA Tribal Drinking Water Headquarters and Regions, personal communications, 2021–2022).DiscussionOur study has several limitations. Missing or incomplete data from UCMR3 add uncertainty to our analysis of historical testing. Additionally, Tribal PWS are identified by owner type and not by the demographics of the population served, because demographic data are not available at the PWS level.Comprehensive PFAS drinking water testing for Tribal communities is needed. Future research should examine other potential sources of PFAS exposure for Tribal communities. Assessing and managing environmental health risks must incorporate culturally significant practices and traditional ecological knowledge, as well as Tribally defined boundaries and traditional hunting and fishing areas.10,11Our analysis shows that even systematic research may fail to equitably include certain populations. Therefore, we suggest that UCMR5 be amended to provide resources and support for the inclusion of more Tribal PWS and that the U.S. EPA should support testing of additional Tribal water sources, such as private wells. Other measures, such as education and remediation, should be pursued in locations where contamination is detected, especially in Tribal communities that have historically been excluded from PFAS action. Small PWS may need targeted resources given the substantial remediation costs associated with PFAS contamination. State agencies could offer greater support for focused PFAS monitoring and remediation in Tribal Nations. Although developing data on environmental inequalities for Tribal communities is not a sufficient condition for addressing environmental injustice, it is a necessary step.AcknowledgmentsThis research was supported by the National Science Foundation (SES-1827817 and SES-2120510) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (1R01ES028311-01A1, 1T32ES023769-01, and R25ES025496). The authors thank P. Hingst, M. Junker, and members of the PFAS Project Lab for their useful suggestions and comments. The authors are also grateful to the U.S. EPA representatives who generously shared their time to describe their programmatic work.References1. Indian Health Service. 2019. Disparities. https://www.ihs.gov/newsroom/factsheets/disparities/ [accessed 27 April 2022]. Google Scholar2. Teodoro MP, Haider M, Switzer DU. 2018. U.S. Environmental policy implementation on tribal lands: trust, neglect, and justice. Policy Stud J 46(1):37–59, 10.1111/psj.12187. Crossref, Google Scholar3. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Guidance on PFAS Exposure, Testing, and Clinical Follow-Up. Washington, DC: National Academies Press, PMID: 35939564, 10.17226/26156. Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar4. Andrews DQ, Naidenko OV. 2020. Population-wide exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from drinking water in the United States. Environ Sci Technol Lett 7(12):931–936, 10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00713. Crossref, Google Scholar5. U.S. EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2022. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). https://www.epa.gov/pfas [accessed 26 May 2022]. Google Scholar6. U.S. EPA. Third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 2021. https://www.epa.gov/dwucmr/third-unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule [accessed 11 November 2021]. Google Scholar7. U.S. EPA. 2022. The Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5). https://www.epa.gov/dwucmr/fifth-unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule [accessed 4 April 2022]. Google Scholar8. U.S. EPA. 2021. Tribal Public Water System Supervision Program. https://www.epa.gov/tribaldrinkingwater/tribal-public-water-system-supervision-program [accessed 4 April 2022]. Google Scholar9. U.S. EPA. 2022. Safe Drinking Water on Tribal Lands: Tribal PFAS Monitoring Results. https://sdwis.epa.gov/ords/sfdw_pub/f?p=SDWIS_FED_REPORTS_PUBLIC:TRIBAL_PFAS [accessed 29 November 2022]. Google Scholar10. Cummins C, Doyle J, Kindness L, Lefthand MJ, Bear Dont Walk UJ, Bends AL, et al.2010. Community-based participatory research in Indian country: improving health through water quality research and awareness. Fam Community Health 33(3):166–174, PMID: 20531097, 10.1097/FCH.0b013e3181e4bcd8. Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar11. Finn S, Herne M, Castille D. 2017. The value of traditional ecological knowledge for the environmental health sciences and biomedical research. Environ Health Perspect 125(8):085006, PMID: 20531097, 10.1289/EHP858. Link, Google ScholarThe authors have no conflicts of interest or competing interest to disclose.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited byJones L and Ingram J (2022) Invited Perspective: Tribal Water Issues Exemplified by the Navajo Nation, Environmental Health Perspectives, 130:12, Online publication date: 1-Dec-2022.Related articlesInvited Perspective: Tribal Water Issues Exemplified by the Navajo Nation14 December 2022Environmental Health Perspectives Vol. 130, No. 12 December 2022Metrics About Article Metrics Publication History Manuscript received31 May 2022Manuscript revised26 August 2022Manuscript accepted17 November 2022Originally published14 December 2022 Financial disclosuresPDF download License information EHP is an open-access journal published with support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health. All content is public domain unless otherwise noted. 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Healthcare access and health-related information for American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) communities is often limited. A potential solution to acquire additional population level health data is through wastewater-derived measurements, a method termed wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), however, due to often remote locations with rudimentary wastewater infrastructure, the feasibility of implementing WBE on an AIAN reservation is unclear. In this study, we i) performed a preliminary assessment of percent connectivity of the top 10 most populous tribal reservations using available wastewater treatment facility information from the Environmental Protection Agency Enforcement and Compliance History Online database and satellite imagery, and ii) performed a sampling campaign on a select tribal reservation to measure common WBE indicators of health and behavior. Results indicate that, on average, approximately 81 ± 23% of tribal residents are connected to some form of aggregated wastewater collection system. On the sampled reservation, 6 communities comprising 7500 people were sampled across 160 km of reservation land using active samplers successfully deployed within the sewer network upstream of terminal lagoon systems. Results showed detectable levels of 7 opioids, 1 opioid maintenance medication, 5 stimulants, 1 hallucinogen, and chemical indicators of alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, and an over-the-counter cough suppressant. These results illustrated the feasibility in implementing WBE in rural and remote communities where information on community health may be lacking.

Wastewater monitoring has been used to identify SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and track new variants. This sentinel system should be expanded to monitor other pathogens and boost public health preparedness.

Mentorship programs for Native American (NA) faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields hold significant promise toward developing, recruiting, and retaining NA members of the professoriate. In 2018, a qualitative study was conducted that explored experiences, and mentoring relationships that enhanced or inhibited professional development and career advancement of NA faculty and instructors in STEM fields. The study used Indigenous Research Methodologies to coconstruct a conversational moderator's guide aligning with Indigenous community ontology. Interview questions were developed from the existing literature and programs and the project teams' expertise. Twenty-three NA faculty and instructors and a postdoctoral trainee in STEM fields participated in the interviews. Transcripts were coded, organized, and interpreted. Themes and subthemes were generated, which were noted for relevance to the theoretical framework. Participants described their experience working in higher education as viewed through their academic, social and cultural values, relationships, and responsibilities. Common themes included the (a) importance of peer, senior and community mentors, (b) value of oral presentation to professional development, (c) need for social connectedness and work-life balance, and (d) importance of increasing institutional knowledge about Indigenous values and research methodologies. Several themes aligned with TribalCrit, allowing for a strong critique of NA faculty mentoring by NA's in higher education. The narratives underscore the need for institutions to deliver professional development and mentoring programs for NA faculty and for administrators to strengthen institutional supports to improve NA faculty achievement.

There is no safe level of exposure to inorganic arsenic or uranium, yet recent studies identified sociodemographic and regional inequalities in concentrations of these frequently detected contaminants in public water systems across the US. We analyze the county-level association between racial/ethnic composition and public water arsenic and uranium concentrations from 2000–2011 using geospatial models. We find that higher proportions of Hispanic/Latino and American Indian/Alaskan Native residents are associated with significantly higher arsenic and uranium concentrations. These associations differ in magnitude and direction across regions; higher proportions of non-Hispanic Black residents are associated with higher arsenic and uranium in regions where concentrations of these contaminants are high. The findings from this nationwide geospatial analysis identifying racial/ethnic inequalities in arsenic and uranium concentrations in public drinking water across the US can advance environmental justice initiatives by informing regulatory action and financial and technical support to protect communities of color. Environmental justice and drinking water in the US: Higher proportions of Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and non-Hispanic Black residents were associated with higher public water arsenic and uranium at the county-level, findings differed by region.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: American Indians suffer from higher rates of diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and disproportionate exposures to metals and/or other hazards. Indigenous people in the rest of the Americas and Polynesia show remarkable similarities. Gene-environmental studies are key to creating interventions for these groups. Increased Indigenous participation is also key. However, trust to participate can only be manifested when research relevance and respect for Indigenous sovereignty are included in community education METHODS: Due to the limited publication of qualitative research on this type of engagement, a Scoping Review was not feasible. Instead, we conducted a narrative literature review of articles studying genomics using a participatory approach with Indigenous communities between 2012 and the present. We evaluated whether these studies have considered environmental exposures. We also evaluated if environmental studies in Indigenous communities have considered genomics their engagements. Search terms such as environment, genomic and Indigenous were used. RESULTS:In 2009, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (2009) funded a large number of genomic projects. Consequently, databases showed a substantial rise of genomic manuscripts by 2012. The Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) of genomics publications showed a similar pattern. Since, many such publications have engaged Indigenous communities about genomic data but few have paired the exposome in their community education or attitude surveys. Moreover, none assessed research participation likelihood if the paired topics could demonstrate the usefulness of combined inquiry. CONCLUSIONS:Few studies have explained the impact of multifactorial research to communities. Many reasons obligate the genomic environmental researchers to look at Human Health holistically. The Exposome provides the opportunity to jointly study human genomics & systemically biased socio-economic realities that negatively impact Indigenous communities. Successful research recruitment must account for the historic mistrust of Indigenous communities and could be reversed by an explication of interactions that lead to disparity KEYWORDS: American Indian, Environmental Exposure, Exposome, Amerindigenous, Community Engagement, ELSI

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Systemic environmental health disparities exist for residents of U.S. Tribal lands including access to safe public drinking water and differences in drinking water quality as compared to non-Tribal lands. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a leading emerging concern for drinking water. However, knowledge about PFAS contamination on Tribal lands is lacking, a shortcoming in environmental health research given the extent of PFAS contamination. METHODS: We comprehensively identified existing PFAS water testing programs, including academic institutions and federal agencies, to identify all existing testing of drinking and/or groundwater on Tribal lands and to understand factors that prompted testing. We examined the proximity of Indian Reservations to active U.S. military installations. Military installations, Indian Reservations, and known PFAS contamination site levels were mapped with ArcGIS using publicly available data. RESULTS:We identified limited existing PFAS testing on Tribal lands, including partnerships with academic research institutions, and completed and planned testing by government entities. Spatial analysis identified 58 Reservations were within six miles of an active military installation, including at least 18 installations with identified PFAS contamination and six with over 100,000 ppt PFAS detected in groundwater. CONCLUSIONS:Tribal Nations and their public water systems have been overlooked for systematic testing of PFAS, a large data gap. Tribal lands near military installations may be at increased risk of contamination. While efforts for increased testing by federal agencies exist, current programs are voluntary with little incentive for Tribal Nations to participate. While the EPA's 2023-2025 testing under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule will have increased Tribal PWS inclusion, there is need for timelier PFAS testing. Recognition of the risks posed by PFAS contamination should inform policy change to protect American Indian and Alaska Native health. KEYWORDS: PFAS, environmental disparities, policy

Anthropogenic activities often lead to alterations in the natural environment via multiple routes. Simultaneous occurrence of interacting environmental perturbations may influence animals via more complex pathways than when being exposed to environmental stressors discretely. In our study, we investigated the interactive effects of poor visual environment and exposure to an environmentally realistic concentration of a common contaminant on the behavior of larval zebrafish, Danio rerio. Specifically, we tested the sensory-motor behavior of zebrafish larvae by exposing them to low-light conditions and a low concentration of bisphenol-A (BPA) for 7 days postfertilization. We found that zebrafish exposed to both BPA and low-light conditions had significantly weaker response to a moving-visual cue. However, those exposed to only one of these treatments did not have altered response to visual cues. Since the response to a moving, visual cue involves locomotion, we also examined the distance they traveled as a proxy for activity level of individuals across treatments. However, the distance traveled by individuals did not significantly differ across treatments, suggesting that the differences in response are linked to visual sensory pathways. Here, we emphasize that the adverse effects of environmental stressors, particularly of those that occur at environmentally relevant concentrations, may emerge only when they co-occur with another environmental stressor. These findings highlight the need to incorporate multiple environmental stressors to comprehensively assess impacts that human activities have on behavioral strategies of animals.

Emerging contaminants in Tribal water have been unexplored until implementation of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) campaigns, which mandated the analysis of up to 30 new contaminants in drinking water every five years. As additions to the Safe Water Drinking Act (SDWA), the UCMR1 – 3 were created to assess contaminants which have not yet been assigned a maximum contaminant level (MCL) but may be regulated in the future to protect human health. While a handful of Tribes (n = 6) participated in UCMR1, public water systems (PWS) within reservation boundaries were intentionally included in representative nation-wide sampling beginning with UCMR2 after a period of Tribal consultation. Still, less than 3% of Tribal PWS were surveyed. The results from UCMR2 revealed that samples from all surveyed Tribal PWS fell below the method detection limits. Target analytes shifted to metals, perfluorinated chemicals, hormones, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dioxane, and chlorate under UCMR3. Detectable levels of metals (chromium, hexavalent chromium, strontium, and vanadium), chlorate, and dioxane were observed, and in some cases, at concentrations greater than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) recommended health reference limit (HRL). The presence of elevated levels of vanadium, strontium, 1,4-dioxane, perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), and chlorate defines a new set of emerging contaminants that needs to be considered with regards to risk, reporting and monitoring, and water treatment in Tribal drinking water.

Water in the Native World: The Intersection of Hydrology and Indigenous Knowledge; Pablo, Montana, 1–4 August 2018