Spatial patterns of tungsten and cobalt in surface dust of Fallon,Nevada |
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Authors: | Paul R Sheppard Robert J Speakman Gary Ridenour Michael D Glascock Calvin Farris Mark L Witten |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;(2) Museum Conservation Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Suitland, MD 20746, USA;(3) 625 W. Williams Ave., Suite B, Fallon, NV 89406, USA;(4) Research Reactor Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA;(5) Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA |
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Abstract: | Spatial patterns of tungsten and cobalt are described for surface dust of Fallon, Nevada, where a cluster of childhood leukemia
has been ongoing since 1997. In earlier research, airborne tungsten and cobalt was shown to be elevated in total suspended
particulates in Fallon. To fine-tune the spatial patterns of tungsten and cobalt deposition in Fallon, surface dust was collected
in a grid pattern within as well as outside of Fallon to establish background concentrations of metals. In surface dust, tungsten
and cobalt show sharp peaks (934 ppm and 98 ppm, respectively) within Fallon just north of highway 50 and west of highway
95. These two peaks overlap spatially, and given the grid pattern used for collecting surface dust, the source area of these
two airborne metals can be pinpointed to the vicinity of hard-metal industry located north of highway 50 and west of highway
95. Fallon is distinctive in west central Nevada because of high airborne tungsten and cobalt particulates, and given its
cluster of childhood leukemia, it stands to reason that additional biomedical research is in order to test directly the leukogenicity
of combined airborne tungsten and cobalt particulates. |
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Keywords: | Fallon Nevada Childhood leukemia Tungsten Cobalt Surface dust chemistry |
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