Abstract
Elevated arsenic exposure from drinking water is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and skin, lung, and bladder cancer. Arsenic contamination in groundwater supplies disproportionately affects rural populations using private wells. Arsenic mitigation programs for American Indian communities are limited. There is an urgent need for targeted approaches to reduce arsenic exposure for at-risk communities using private wells. Formative research was conducted to inform and design a community-based arsenic mitigation intervention for Lakota and Dakota Nations in the Great Plains Area of the United States, where, in some communities, one-quarter of private wells are estimated to have elevated arsenic. Formative research included semi-structured interviews, a community workshop, intervention-planning workshops, and a pilot study of the developed intervention. Community members prioritize aesthetic qualities of water (e.g. taste, color), safety, and other situational factors (e.g. cost) when considering their drinking and cooking water. Although water safety is a concern, awareness and concern for arsenic vary substantially within communities. To reduce arsenic exposure, community members recommended communication of water test results, home visits for intervention delivery, and reminders to use arsenic-safe water. Findings informed the development of an intervention to prevent arsenic exposure through drinking water and cooking, including health promotion messages and household items to facilitate use of an arsenic removal device (e.g. tankards to store filtered water). The pilot study indicated promising acceptability and operability of the developed intervention. This research provides a model for the development of environmental health interventions in partnership with American Indian and other private well-using communities.
| Language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages | 3120-3133 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Science of the Total Environment |
| Volume | 650 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 10 2019 |
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Keywords
- American Indian
- Drinking water
- Formative research
- Private wells
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Chemistry
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Pollution
Cite this
The Strong Heart Water Study : Informing and designing a multi-level intervention to reduce arsenic exposure among private well users in Great Plains Indian Nations. / Thomas, Elizabeth D.; Gittelsohn, Joel; Yracheta, Joseph; Powers, Martha; O'Leary, Marcia; Harvey, David E.; Red Cloud, Reno; Best, Lyle G.; Black Bear, Annabelle; Navas Acien, Ana; George, Christine Marie.
In: Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 650, 10.02.2019, p. 3120-3133.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The Strong Heart Water Study
T2 - Science of the Total Environment
AU - Thomas, Elizabeth D.
AU - Gittelsohn, Joel
AU - Yracheta, Joseph
AU - Powers, Martha
AU - O'Leary, Marcia
AU - Harvey, David E.
AU - Red Cloud, Reno
AU - Best, Lyle G.
AU - Black Bear, Annabelle
AU - Navas Acien, Ana
AU - George, Christine Marie
PY - 2019/2/10
Y1 - 2019/2/10
N2 - Elevated arsenic exposure from drinking water is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and skin, lung, and bladder cancer. Arsenic contamination in groundwater supplies disproportionately affects rural populations using private wells. Arsenic mitigation programs for American Indian communities are limited. There is an urgent need for targeted approaches to reduce arsenic exposure for at-risk communities using private wells. Formative research was conducted to inform and design a community-based arsenic mitigation intervention for Lakota and Dakota Nations in the Great Plains Area of the United States, where, in some communities, one-quarter of private wells are estimated to have elevated arsenic. Formative research included semi-structured interviews, a community workshop, intervention-planning workshops, and a pilot study of the developed intervention. Community members prioritize aesthetic qualities of water (e.g. taste, color), safety, and other situational factors (e.g. cost) when considering their drinking and cooking water. Although water safety is a concern, awareness and concern for arsenic vary substantially within communities. To reduce arsenic exposure, community members recommended communication of water test results, home visits for intervention delivery, and reminders to use arsenic-safe water. Findings informed the development of an intervention to prevent arsenic exposure through drinking water and cooking, including health promotion messages and household items to facilitate use of an arsenic removal device (e.g. tankards to store filtered water). The pilot study indicated promising acceptability and operability of the developed intervention. This research provides a model for the development of environmental health interventions in partnership with American Indian and other private well-using communities.
AB - Elevated arsenic exposure from drinking water is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and skin, lung, and bladder cancer. Arsenic contamination in groundwater supplies disproportionately affects rural populations using private wells. Arsenic mitigation programs for American Indian communities are limited. There is an urgent need for targeted approaches to reduce arsenic exposure for at-risk communities using private wells. Formative research was conducted to inform and design a community-based arsenic mitigation intervention for Lakota and Dakota Nations in the Great Plains Area of the United States, where, in some communities, one-quarter of private wells are estimated to have elevated arsenic. Formative research included semi-structured interviews, a community workshop, intervention-planning workshops, and a pilot study of the developed intervention. Community members prioritize aesthetic qualities of water (e.g. taste, color), safety, and other situational factors (e.g. cost) when considering their drinking and cooking water. Although water safety is a concern, awareness and concern for arsenic vary substantially within communities. To reduce arsenic exposure, community members recommended communication of water test results, home visits for intervention delivery, and reminders to use arsenic-safe water. Findings informed the development of an intervention to prevent arsenic exposure through drinking water and cooking, including health promotion messages and household items to facilitate use of an arsenic removal device (e.g. tankards to store filtered water). The pilot study indicated promising acceptability and operability of the developed intervention. This research provides a model for the development of environmental health interventions in partnership with American Indian and other private well-using communities.
KW - American Indian
KW - Drinking water
KW - Formative research
KW - Private wells
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85054570234&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85054570234&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.204
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.204
M3 - Article
VL - 650
SP - 3120
EP - 3133
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
SN - 0048-9697
ER -