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Medical Geology Case Study: Childhood Leukemia in Fallon, Nevada

This case study examines the link between childhood leukemia and environmental factors in Fallon, Nevada, including elevated levels of tungsten and cobalt. Multiple lines of evidence, including airborne dust, surface dust, lichens, tree leaf chemistry, and tree rings, suggest a distinctive environmental profile in Fallon. Biomedical research further supports the potential carcinogenicity of tungsten. Funding is needed for further investigation and understanding of the combined environmental exposures affecting disease pathogenesis.

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Medical Geology Case Study: Childhood Leukemia in Fallon, Nevada

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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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