Abstract
Gold mining activities occurred throughout the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California, leaving behind persistent toxic contaminants in the soil, dust, and water that include arsenic and cadmium. Despite a high level of concern among local residents about potential exposure and high breast cancer rates, no biomonitoring data has been collected to evaluate the levels of heavy metals. We conducted a study to characterize the urinary levels of heavy metals among women in this region by working with the community in Nevada County. Sixty women provided urine samples and completed a questionnaire. We examined levels of arsenic, cadmium, and other metals in relation to the length of residency in the area, age, dietary factors, recreational activities, and smoking. We compared urinary metal levels in participants to levels in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Overall, study participants had higher urinary levels of arsenic than women in the national sample. Cadmium levels were similar to the national average, although they were elevated in women ≥35 years who had lived in the region for 10 years or more. Arsenic levels were higher among women who smoked, ate fish, ate home-grown produce, and who reported frequent hiking or trail running, although these differences were not statistically significant. This study established a successful community–research partnership, which facilitated community dialogue about possible human health consequences of living in a mining-impacted area.
Highlights
The foothill region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California is impacted by extensive environmental metal contamination as a result of gold mining activities that began with the 1849 Gold
With a particular focus on arsenic and cadmium, we examined the dialogue about environmental health issues
The measured levels of arsenic were higher in this study than in the national comparison group, and cadmium levels were higher in older, long-term residents
Summary
The foothill region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California is impacted by extensive environmental metal contamination as a result of gold mining activities that began with the 1849 GoldRush (Figure 1). The foothill region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California is impacted by extensive environmental metal contamination as a result of gold mining activities that began with the 1849 Gold. Following the discovery of gold in California in 1848, over 3634 US tons of gold were extracted from the Sierra Nevada foothills using placer, hydraulic, and hard rock mining techniques [1]. As a toxic byproduct of this mining activity, metals such as arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd), which naturally occur in gold deposits, as well as imported mercury (Hg), used as an amalgam, were released into the environment and are persistent contaminants of soil, surface water, and groundwater in the region. Residents are concerned about potential exposure to these and other heavy metals around abandoned mine sites in their community and near their homes. No biomonitoring data have been collected to evaluate the levels of heavy metals in residents of this area
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