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Dr. Shaida Sina
January 1, 2024, Dr. Sina wrote a petition to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a division of Center for Disease Control (CDC). She requested ATSDR to use environmental health tools to investigate possible pathway toxins that are coming into our community (Jerome, Clarkdale, & Cottonwood). The focus was to be in Cottonwood around the slag pile and where the old Clemenceau smelter stood. ATSDR has not yet approved the request because there must first be testing. 5 requests were made to:
- Determine whether mining waste has affected our community
- Determine if those toxins could be getting into our body
- Determine if they could affect our health
- Direct ADEQ Arizona Department of Environmental Quality on appropriate testing so ATSDR and DHS can write a report and recommend actions to protect health
- Review safety of using copper mining waste as an upcycled material which could potentially spread toxins and cause illness.