Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115450

Rebecca Jim, Local Environmental Action Demand, 19257 S. 4403 Dr., Vinita, OK 74301, 918 256 5269, rjim@neok.com and Wilma A. Subra, MS, Subra Company, P. O. Box 9813, New Iberia, LA 70562.

Tar Creek, Oklahoma, currently on the National Priority List as a Superfund site, is the largest lead and zinc mine in the United States. Forty Square miles are affected by acid mine drainage which has contaminated surface and ground water. The soil in residential and school yards, parks, pasture and croplands, and marshland wetlands are contaminated with heavy metals. Stockpiles of large mountains of mine tailings are dispersed by the strong Oklahoma winds. The dust is contaminated with heavy metals and is deposited throughout the area. Foods such as fish, native pecans and walnuts garden crops, wild onions and other native species and berries are contaminated with heavy metals.

The population is 25 % Native American. The Native Americans depend on the fish, terrestrial organisms and plants as well as crops for subsistence and for ceremonial activities. Cultural ceremonies utilize contaminated flora and fauna. The health of the community is being severely impacted by the historical and ongoing pollution.

The actions taken by the communities to compel state and federal environmental and health agencies to identify the sources and extent of contamination will be presented. The process utilized by the community to educate and empower community members in order to participate in activities to draw attention to their situation will be discussed. The results of the community health studies which provided adequate evaluations of health impacts will be provided.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe three mechanisms utilized by the communities to identify the extent of contamination and impacts associated with exposure to heavy metals in Tar Creek, Oklahoma.
• To explain four activities the local communities have been engaged in to obtain assistance in dealing with health related impacts to environmental exposures.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.