Core--Lead exposure pathways, biomarkers, health effects, & phytoremediation

生活在俄克拉荷马州焦油溪超级基金场地（TCSS）地区的个人高度暴露于铅污染的采矿废物（"聊天"）。大约42%的居民是美洲印第安人后裔。初步研究发现，在该地区的几个城镇中，高比例（25 - 63%）的幼儿血铅超过10 mug/dL，并确定接触“聊天”是血铅水平升高的主要独立风险因素。1997年，我们开始与东北部俄克拉荷马州社区团体的成员合作，致力于解决这些问题（"当地环境行动要求"[L.E.A.D.] Agency，Inc.）根据社区关注的问题和优先事项，对铅暴露途径、铅剂量的生物标志物、行为影响和植物修复策略进行基于社区的综合研究。在这项研究的流行病学部分，我们将测量骨铅水平（使用K-X射线荧光仪器）和血铅水平之间的第6，第7年级的四所中学位于TCSS。这些措施将与爱荷华州基本技能测试的分数有关，这是一种所有学生在五年级和七年级都必须参加的评估工具，以及对父母、教师和学生自己进行的儿童行为检查表的评分。我们将测试的假设，积累的铅负荷是一个主要的风险因素，为穷人的认知和行为的结果，结果已被注意到是非常普遍的，在这个社区。在一个平行的努力，我们将调查土著植被的焦油溪超级基金网站，以确定植物物种多样性和空间分布与植物组织和土壤中的铅伴随测量。我们的分析将确定土著植被的模式预测植物修复过程（植物和土壤铅污染物的相互作用）。我们将结合这些数据，并收集水文地质，园艺和气候因素的新数据，以设计一个基于社区的模式植物修复计划。我们将测试的假设，植物修复可以降低高土壤铅浓度在目标地区。最后，我们将使用从流行病学研究中获得的骨和血铅水平数据，对生活在"聊天"堆附近的高铅和低铅负担的个体进行暴露评估后续研究，并检查空间、生态、家庭和行为因素，以预测儿童在高度污染的环境中是否会产生高铅或低铅负担。

Individuals living in the Tar Creek Superfund Site (TCSS) area of Oklahoma are highly exposed to lead-contaminated mining wastes ("chat"). Approximately 42% of residents are of American Indian descent. Initial studies have found high proportions (25-63%) of young children in several of the area's towns with blood leads exceeding 10 mug/dL and identified exposure to "chat" as a major independent risk factor for elevated blood lead levels. In 1997, we began working with members of a Northeast Oklahoma community group dedicated to addressing these issues ("Local Environmental Action Demanded" [L.E.A.D.] Agency, Inc.) To develop, based on community concerns and priorities, and integrated community-based study of lead exposure pathways, biological markers of lead dose, behavioral effects, and phytoremediation strategies. In the epidemiologic component of this study, we will measure bone lead levels (using a K-x-ray fluorescence instrument) and blood lead levels among 6th, and 7th graders at four middle schools located in the TCSS. These measures will be related to scores on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, an evaluation instrument that all students are already required to take in the 5th and 7th grades, as well as rating on a Childhood Behavioral Checklist that is administered to parents, teachers, and the students themselves. We will test the hypothesis that accumulated lead burden is a major risk factor for poor cognitive and behavioral outcomes, outcomes that have been noted to be highly prevalent in this community. In a parallel effort, we will survey indigenous vegetation on the Tar Creek Superfund Site to determine plant species diversity and spatial distribution with accompanying measurements of lead in plant tissue and soil. Our analysis will determine if patterns of indigenous vegetation predict phytoremediation processes (interaction of plants and soil lead contaminants). We will incorporate this data and collect new data on hydrogeologic, horticultural, and climatic factors to design a community- based model phytoremediation plan. We will test the hypothesis that phytoremediation can reduce high soil lead concentrations in targeted areas. Finally, we will use the bone and blood lead level data generated from epidemiologic study to target exposure assessment follow-up studies of individuals with high and low lead burdens who live in close proximity to "chat" piles, and examine spatial, ecological, home, and behavioral factors that predict whether a child develops high or low lead burdens when living in a highly contaminated environment.