Dr. Joseph H. Hoover

The Navajo Birth Cohort Study examined how exposure to mixtures of metals, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, and uranium, affects preterm birth among Indigenous women. Using a Bayesian mixtures analysis, researchers identified subgroups with elevated exposures and found that the most highly exposed women had nearly three times the risk of preterm birth compared to the lowest exposure group. The findings underscore the need for further research on combined environmental exposures and maternal health disparities.

This study evaluated how different meteorological data sources affect predictions of exposure susceptibility to abandoned uranium mines in the Navajo Nation. Using machine learning and GIS modeling, researchers compared national datasets, regional airport reports, and local weather stations. Results showed that direct local measurements produced the most accurate predictions, underscoring the importance of community-based data collection for risk assessment and policy decisions.

The Diné Network for Environmental Health (DiNEH) Project documented widespread exposure to uranium mining wastes and metals in Navajo communities. Blood and urine testing revealed autoantibody positivity more than twice the U.S. average, with higher risks for women living near waste sites. This community-engaged study demonstrates the potential of clinical biomarkers as early indicators of environmental metal exposure and its health impacts.