Glen’s take · Why we chose this story
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Open the original on idlw.internalIn short the story
Naturally occurring uranium contaminates groundwater in Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado. Causes kidney damage before radiation harm. Navajo Nation faces disproportionate exposure from abandoned mines.
The read Glen’s take, in his words
I want to tell you about a public health crisis that almost nobody outside the Southwest is paying attention to. Uranium in groundwater.
It occurs naturally in the geology of Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado — and it's contaminating drinking water for communities across all four states. Here's the part people don't realize. It damages kidneys before it ever causes radiation harm. The kidney toxicity shows up first.
And the Navajo Nation is bearing an enormous share of the exposure — compounded by decades of abandoned uranium mines that are still leaching into groundwater no one has cleaned up.
I put this page together because the national conversation on water ignores this crisis almost entirely.
Read it carefully.
Questions answered from this page
What is this story about?
Naturally occurring uranium contaminates groundwater in Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado. Causes kidney damage before radiation harm. Navajo Nation faces disproportionate exposure from abandoned mines.
Why did Glen Kerby choose this story?
Underreported story with environmental justice angle. Connects water to Native sovereignty.
What is Glen Kerby’s take?
I want to tell you about a public health crisis that almost nobody outside the Southwest is paying attention to. Uranium in groundwater. It occurs naturally in the geology of Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado — and it's contaminating drinking water for communities across all four states.