UA SRP Researchers Participate in Dewey-Humboldt Community Health Talk

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Researchers from the University of Arizona Superfund Research Program (UA SRP) travelled to Dewey-Humboldt, AZ on June 2 to participate in “A Community Health Talk” hosted by Gardenroots, a citizen science project to empower communities neighboring contamination.  Residents of the town live in proximity to the Iron King Mine and Humboldt Smelter Superfund site, and may be exposed to arsenic and lead contamination in soil and water.

Since placement of the site on the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List in 2008, the UA SRP has acted as an information resource for the affected community. The purpose of this meeting was to bring community members together with UA SRP scientists to discuss the contaminants of concern in an informal question-and-answer setting.

UA SRP personnel included Dr. Paloma Beamer, Dr. Clark Lantz, Dr. Walt Klimecki, graduate trainees Monica Ramirez-Andreotta and Marlene Dermody, and research translation coordinator Dr. Sarah Wilkinson. They were also joined by UA Cooperative Extension agent for Yavapai County, Jeff Schalau. Members of the community had many questions about the connection between exposure to contaminants of concern and their families’ health, including what the health effects are, what factors determine who can be affected, and how best to limit exposure.

All participants enjoyed the opportunity to interact directly with one another. Community members expressed interest in further such meetings with UA SRP investigators, as well as learning more about the UA SRP research projects taking place at the site.

To read about the current research projects at the Iron King Mine and Humboldt Smelter Superfund site, please visit:
UA SRP Researchers Initiate the Iron King Mine Superfund Site Phytostabilization Trial
UA SRP Training Core Student Monica Ramirez-Andreotta Awarded EPA Grant for Gardenroots Project