Person:

Avedian, John

In 2015 staff in Harvard University’s Widener Library discovered an unidentified white powder in a few early twentieth-century books in Persian and Urdu languages that had been acquired four years previously from a rare book dealer in Pakistan. The powder was positively identified as the insecticides Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane(DDT), Coumaphos, and several derivatives. Later it became evident that these volumes were part of a large collection and that potentially thousands of volumes were contaminated. Various exposure assessments were followed by cleaning and reassessment which revealed that risks to persons were infinitely small. However, a bioassay revealed that the pesticide residues were still biologically active. The transparency of communication and demonstrated collaboration between Safety, Facilities, and Library personnel generated trust among staff that their health and safety were paramount. This trust was key to subsequent incidents of contaminated collections and our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This research filled a critical gap in the literature by measuring the effect of toxic contaminants from metal mining activities on public health in Armenia. Soil polluted by toxic chemicals in mining areas is a widespread and significant problem in Armenia and many developing countries. In the absence of control or restoration measures, humans and animals may be exposed and have unfettered access to a contaminated site. A localized disturbance to the ground can cause increased dispersion and exposure of broader populations to the contaminants through wind or water pathways.

This study implemented proximity analysis and downstream trace analysis with GIS technology to spatially quantify the effect of the concentration and spread of those pollutants on health. A unique geospatial database was created based on contamination data from Pure Earth and health data from Demographic Health Surveys. The presence and concentration of heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury, and proximity to nearby communities, were used to measure the impact of contamination. Incidence of miscarriages, stillbirths, anemia, and low birth weight were used as measures of public health burdens, contrasted for populations living proximal and distal to metal mines.

Higher levels of contaminants and living in proximity to metal mines were positively associated with poorer health outcomes. Incidences of fetal mortality and anemia in areas within 10 km of a contaminated site were associated with elevated levels of arsenic and chromium. Arsenic, chromium, and lead were also negatively associated with birth weight, suggesting potential health risks to mothers due to proximity to a metal mine.

The results of individual chemicals were mixed, with mercury having no significant association with any of the health outcomes and lead only being statistically associated with lower birth weight. On the other hand, the hazard index of five chemicals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury) was positively associated with the incidence of fetal mortality and anemia and was negatively associated with birth weight, indicating poorer health for people living within 10 km of contaminated sites.

In addition, living within 50 km of any metal mine was associated with elevated incidence of miscarriages and stillbirths. The magnitude of this association was substantial: there was a 20% higher incidence of miscarriages and stillbirths in areas within 50 km from any metal mine.

This study highlighted how contamination created from underregulated mining practices can affect the public health of populations living in nearby areas. These findings may be relevant not only for Armenia but other countries with similar economies and geography.