University of New Mexico

METALS

Superfund Center

Metals Exposure and Toxicity Assessment on Tribal Lands in the Southwest

Visit our website

METALS begins health study at

the Pueblo of Laguna

The first round of data collection for the Laguna Exposure Studies began on the Pueblo of Laguna in August of 2025. These METALS studies are designed to assess health impacts from metals exposures mainly from uranium mine wastes with a focus on the nearby Jackpile Mine. These studies mark the first-ever approval to collect samples and assess the health impacts of decades-long exposures to uranium mine wastes in this community living next to the once largest open-pit uranium mine in the world. We have now collected data from 90 participants in August alone.

We will continue collection events in Laguna on November 7-9, 2025 in Old Laguna at the main auditorium.

The studies are meant to help researchers learn about overall metals exposure from the Jackpile mine through collection of blood and urine, breath tests, and stool samples to see how metals exposures affect health. These studies have the potential to inform interventions to reduce health risks from exposures to uranium and other contaminants. Information from these studies coupled with existing findings related to contaminants in the environment will help inform uranium mine remediation decisions and review of proposed new uranium mining projects in the area.

METALS Researcher Spotlights

METALS director Dr. José M. Cerrato is featured on UNM's Community Engagement YouTube channel for his groundbreaking research on the intersection of water, energy, and environmental justice. The interview video titled "Dr. Jose Cerrato—Bridging Environmental Engineering and Community Impact" has been very well received by the viewers of the channel. Watch the feature here: https://youtu.be/AIx-i9jM9c4

Dr. Cerrato has also been named President-Elect of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) during the September 4-5, 2025 meeting. Congratulations, to Dr. Cerrato!

Fellowship Award

Join us in congratulating Mallery Quetawki, METALS Research Translation Core (RTC) Coordinator, on being named a 2025 @Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellow! This Fellowship will allow her to continue working with the Community Environmental Health Program in the College of Pharmacy at University of New Mexico while earning a graduate degree at @Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, ranked as #1 school of public health by U.S. News & World Report. We’re excited to see the amazing things she will accomplish! https://americanhealth.jhu.edu/news/2025-Bloomberg-Fellows

LET'S WELCOME OUR NEW TRAINEES

Cristina Coffman

Cristina is a PhD student and works with Dr. Julie In on METALS BioProject Gut. She studies how uranium exposure impacts the protective mucus lining of the colon and the cells responsible for producing it. The mucus layer plays an important role in gut health, so understanding these effects can help in learning more about potential health risks in communities surrounding abandoned uranium mines.

Ruixuan (Haydee) Liu

Haydee is a PhD student working under the mentorship of Dr. Julie In. Her research focused on the METALS Bioproject Gut and is studying how exposure to pollution from abandoned uranium mines affects the gut. These pollutants may damage special cells in the colon that release hormones and help with healing. They can also upset the balance of important body chemicals called polyamines. Understanding these effects can help us learn more about the health risks of uranium exposure.

Brianna Maes

Brianna Maes is a 2^nd year PhD student in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of New Mexico under the mentorship of Dr. Eliseo Castillo. She is currently looking at how water from Rio Paguate, which contains heavy metals such as uranium, impacts the gut. The purpose of this research is to better understand how long-term exposure to uranium at levels found in the environment might influence gut health and overall well-being.

Ian Malone

Ian is a Master's student working with METALS Environmental Project PM (Particulate Matter) with Professor Adrian Brearley at UNM's Earth and Planetary Sciences Department Electron Microscopy Lab. His research focuses on windblown dust from the eroding Jackpile-Paguate Uranium Mine Superfund site to evaluate its impact on human health. Small particles of toxic metals transported by wind are of particular concern because inhaled particles can enter deep into the lungs and be dissolved; the metals then can be absorbed into the bloodstream which can affect organ and neurological health. This research helps understand how contaminants from the mine site affect community health and can help inform future remediation efforts.

Presentations

43^rd Annual Meeting of the Mountain West Society of Toxicology (MWSOT)

This year’s MWSOT meeting was held in Albuquerque, NM, on August 21 & 22 and was hosted by the University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy. The meeting featured an exciting program including a keynote address, scientific presentations, poster sessions, and valuable networking opportunities across academia, industry, and government. METALS teams presented their posters at the event.

The following METALS trainees received awards at the conference:

Charlotte McVeigh, Yost/Burchiel Award

Oral Presentation: Longitudinal Study of Bone Marrow Adipocytes Throughout Tungsten-Enhanced Breast Cancer Metastasis

Poster Presentation: Analysis of metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers in human subjects with exposure to tungsten

Jorge Moreno, 1st Place - Best Poster by a Graduate Student

Poster Presentation: Development of an autoimmune prone disease state following inhalation exposure to uranium bearing dust in MRL/MpJ mice

Brenna Baird, Best Platform Presentation by a Graduate Student

Oral Presentation: The Impacts of a Western Diet and Healthy Fatty Acids on Wildfire Smoke-Induced Neuroinflammation

METALS trainee, Ember Suh, presented a poster titled "Prolonged, age-dependent neurometabolic changes following wood smoke exposure in mice" at the 19th Biannual Meeting of the International Neurotoxicology Association in Sommaroy, Norway on Sept 9, 2025.

Upcoming Presentations

METALS researchers will be presenting at the 12th conference on METALS Toxicity and Carcinogenesis hosted by Stony Brook University between October 26 and 29, 2025 held at the Danfords Hotel & Marina Port Jefferson, NY. https://cancer.stonybrookmedicine.edu/CancerResearch/12th_Conference_2025

Alicia Bolt, "Uncovering Immune Dysregulation Mechanisms Triggered by Uranium Mine Dust Exposure."

Julie In, "Uranium-laden particulate dust disrupts intestinal epithelial proliferation and differentiation."

Sebastian Medina, "Defining Mechanisms of Arsenic-Induced Hematotoxicity Using Mouse and Human Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Models."

Community Engagement

METALS continues outreach at the Pueblo of Laguna and has held informational booth at following Feast Days:

-Seama Feast Day at the Pueblo of Laguna (July 26)

-Mesita Feast Day (August 15)

-Laguna Feast Day at Old Laguna (September 18-20)

-Paguate Village Feast Day (September 25)

**Village of Paraje Feast Day (October 17) Upcoming**

Read Previous Newsletters

NIH/NIEHS P42 ES025589 (UNM METALS) This material was developed in part under cited research awards to the University of New Mexico. It has not been formally reviewed by the funding agencies. The views expressed are solely those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the agencies. The funders do not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned in this presentation.

Click here to subscribe to our Newsletter