Grand Challenges and Research | Urban Studies & Planning

Tribal Environmental Health and Technology

Area of Concentration: Tribal Policy and Planning

Associated Grand Challenges

• Improving Tribal Environmental Health

Mentor

• Hiram Sarabia

Environmental factors are believed to contribute significantly in approximately 25% of human diseases and disorders. In U.S. EPA’s region 9 and along the U.S.-Mexico border, Tribal communities are among the most vulnerable to environmental hazards and exposure to toxic chemicals. This vulnerability arises, in part, due to unique exposures associated with diet and Tribal lifestyles (e.g., handling plants for basket weaving and other traditional-ceremonial practices, dependence on groundwater, etc.) as well as gaps in the necessary infrastructure to address the impacts of dumping and other polluting activities that disproportionately impact tribal communities. The University of California, San Diego – Superfund Research Program (UCSD SRP) focuses a significant part of its efforts on communicating and sharing SRP–generated knowledge and technologies with Tribal communities affected by hazardous waste sites and toxicants.

In the 2008, the UCSD Superfund Research Program (SRP) took important steps to build the capacity of Tribes to utilize SRP molecular bioassay technologies by working closely with Dr. Marshall Cheung to develop a Tribal Bioassay Lab at the 29 Palms Tribal EPA (29 Palms), the preeminent certified Tribal EPA Laboratory in U.S. EPA Region 9.
When fully staffed and operational, the new 29 Palms Tribal EPA Bioassay Laboratory can provide bioassay analytical services to Tribes using SRP technologies, as well as hands-on opportunities for applied translational research for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and SRP researchers. Our collaboration with 29 Palms enables us to better serve vulnerable Tribal communities by building capacity within established and trusted Tribal institutions to screen for hazardous chemicals (i.e., dioxins) identified by the U.S. EPA TSC as Tribal priorities.

Opportunity:

Assist the UCSD SRP in all aspects of efforts to build the capacity of Tribal Institutions to utilize new molecular technologies to address issues dealing with toxic chemicals impacting the environment and human health.