Study targets uranium, arsenic damage (NM - Use of zinc to repair cell damage)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | June 4, 2020 | Theresa Davis

[CedarDave]

Navajo Nation residents have long been exposed to uranium, arsenic and other heavy metals in drinking water and soil.

Now the “Thinking Zinc” clinical trial led by University of New Mexico researchers is studying whether dietary zinc supplements can help repair metals-induced damage in Navajo participants.

“We know from molecular and cellular and animal studies that both arsenic and uranium can displace zinc in proteins that function in immune responses, as well as DNA repair processes,” said Dr. Debra MacKenzie, deputy director of UNM’s Community Environmental Health Program. “And these are two areas that we’ve seen where metals can cause defects.”

The study is monitoring participants before and after they take supplemental zinc for at least six months. Researchers will look for changes in immune responses or ability to repair DNA damage.

Heavy metals exposure can increase susceptibility to infection, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The UNM team collaborates with the Navajo Area Indian Health Service and Navajo Community Health Representatives to share health findings.

Work on the zinc study has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately affected the Navajo Nation and other tribal communities.

[CedarDave]

Work on the zinc study has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic,...

Maybe if they had kept using the zinc together with HCQ for Native American patients in McKinley and San Juan counties the death toll would be sharply reduced. Those two counties account for 67 percent of New Mexico's 420 covid-19 deaths and most were Native Americans.

[CedarDave]

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[Amberdawn]

Arsenic is naturally present in soil and in a semi desert or desertified area, people will come in contact with it more than those who live in wetter climes. I’m going to guess that the Uranium contact is from A-tests?

[rightwingcrazy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium_mining_and_the_Navajo_people

[LegendHasIt]

Thanks for the ping. Interesting.

[LegendHasIt]

No, not so much that... There is a lot of uranium in the water (and soil) in that region due to natural uranium deposits. A few big uranium mines in the area, many small ones and thousands of little prospects with uranium minerals, but not enough to mine profitably.

[Rebelbase]

My college mineralogy prof had a b/w photo on his wall of him back in the late 50’s eating lunch at a uranium mine holding a sandwich in one hand a hunk of yellow cake in the other.

[CedarDave]

I’ve been underground in a few uranium mines and collected water samples after the Church Rock mill tailings pond failed in July 1979. Still alive and kicking.

[bgill]

Here’s an idea. Maybe they should go to school and do their homework like they should and get off the res.

[Amberdawn]

Ok, thank you for the info.