Wildfires and Flash Floods: Using Exposure Science to Identify Rural Arizona Mining Communities at Risk from the Release and Remobilization of Contaminants

项目总结 气候变化造成的复合事件，与资源开采和社会 司法正在加剧现有的漏洞，并创造新的漏洞。电讯报- 2021年亚利桑那州吉拉县的大火烧毁了180757英亩土地和37%的土壤 严重程度为中到高度。这些火灾发生在一个拥有13种不同资源的地区 开采活动，包括三个铜矿。大火发生后不久，该地区就有了记录 季风季节，降雨量超过14英寸。该地区的大多数矿山废料都是未处理的。 康复，使他们容易机械分散，这可能会增加他们的机动性和 生物利用度。被野火烧毁的地区很容易发生山洪暴发， 迈阿密小镇和环球城受到严重影响。火灾事件能够改变 土壤和表面材料和释放物的物理、化学和生物地球化学特性 和(重新)动员金属(固体)S和放射性物质，并产生多环芳烃 可能影响公众健康的碳氢化合物(PAHs)。超过3000公吨的潜在 迈阿密公共道路和人行道上堆积的受污染沉积物和一些居民 据报道，12英寸的沉淀物沉积在他们的院子里，在某些情况下，进入了他们的家园。 迈阿密/Globe地区土壤和粉尘的有毒污染程度 火灾和洪水还没有得到评估。确定野火后的范围是至关重要的 来自尾矿的泥石流和侵蚀以及这些地质灾害是否存在 邻近农村地区S、放射性物质和多环芳烃的暴露途径 医疗服务不足的环境正义(EJ)社区。为此，我们将：(1)调查 确定受影响地区并确定个人和社区层面的家庭 脆弱性和复原力，(2)通过赋权教育和 社区科学，(3)表征野火期间在土壤中释放并定居的污染物 灰尘，以及(4)使用以公平为中心的社区设计方法来报告所有调查结果并提供 即时干预和预防战略。EJ社区是指受 不成比例地暴露在环境危害中，并增加了对这些危害的脆弱性。 所描述的复合事件对这些农村社区产生了重大影响 被活跃的/遗留的矿山和冶炼厂作业包围，进一步加剧了可能的 暴露在污染物中，增加其风险，并利用结构性不平等和 这些地区的环境健康差距。

PROJECT SUMMARY Compound events due to climate change, combined with resource extraction and social justice are exacerbating exiting vulnerabilities and creating new ones. The Telegraph- Mescal fires in Gila County, Arizona in 2021 consumed 180,757 acres and 37% of the soil burn severity was moderate to high. These fires occurred in a region with 13 different resource extraction activities, including three copper mines. Shortly after the fires, the area had a record monsoon season, with over 14 inches of rainfall. Most of the mine waste in the area are un- rehabilitated, leaving them prone to mechanical dispersion, which may increase their mobility and bioavailability. Areas that have been burned by wildfires are susceptible to flash flooding and the Town of Miami and City of Globe were severely impacted. Fire events are able to alter the physical, chemical, and biogeochemical properties of the soil and surface materials and release and (re)mobilize metal(loid)s and radioactive materials, and produce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that can impact public health. Over 3,000 metric tons of potentially contaminated sediment accumulated on public roads and sidewalks in Miami and some residents reported that 12 inches of sediment settled in their yards and in some cases, entered their homes. The extent of toxic contamination of the soil and dust in the Miami/Globe areas after the fire and flooding have not been assessed. It is critical to determine the extent of post-wildfire debris flows and erosion from mine tailings and whether these geohazards are presenting exposure pathways to metal(loid)s, radioactive materials, and PAHs in neighboring rural, medically underserved, environmental justice (EJ) communities. To do this, we will: (1) survey families to identify the impacted areas and determine individual- and community-level vulnerabilities and resiliencies, (2) build human capacity through empowerment education and community science, (3) characterize contaminants released during wildfires in soil and settled dust, and (4) use an equity-centered community design approach to report all findings and provide immediate intervention and prevention strategies. EJ communities refers to areas affected by disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards and increased vulnerability to those hazards. The compound event described has significantly impacted these rural communities that are surrounded by active/legacy mines and smelter operations, further exacerbating the possible exposure to contaminants, increasing their risk, and exploiting the structural inequalities and environmental health disparities in these areas.