A strong link exists between metals in airborne particulate matter and adverse cardiovascular and pulmonary outcomes, especially chronic inflammatory vascular disease. There are numerous sites in the Southwest US where mining waste has led to severe soil contamination of metals mixtures, leading to high levels of uranium, copper, vanadium, nickel, and arsenic, among others. The primary objective is to assess direct and indirect atherogenic impacts of inhaled particulate matter obtained from communities with a history of mixed metals contamination (PI: Dr. Matt Campen at University of New Mexico).
Inhalation of Contaminated Mine Waste Dusts as a Route for Systemic Metal Toxicity
