Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
High blood pressure (i.e., blood pressure greater than 140/90) is also a risk factor for
cardiovascular disease (e.g., heart attacks, stroke, or heart failure). Since 1995, rates of high blood
pressure have been increasing in the State of New Mexico and across the country; rates in the
State remain somewhat lower (25.6 percent) than the country (27.8 percent) (NMDH, 2011a).
Rates of high blood pressure in McKinley County are statistically lower than the State (18.9
percent), while rates in Cibola County are statistically similar to the State (21.9 percent) (NMDH,
2011a).
Preliminary results of a Navajo-based study suggest that high blood pressure (hypertension) may
be associated with proximity to uranium mine features. In this study, Navajo living closer to
uranium mine features were more likely to have diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease
(Lewis et al., 2010). Rates of hypertension in the Navajo population are not reported in the
preliminary results.
Respiratory Disease
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) are common respiratory diseases
that are exacerbated by certain irritants. Irritants of relevance for this project include vehicle
emissions or air pollution, dust from project related traffic and stress. Below is a summary of the
prevalence of asthma and COPD in the study area.
Over the last 10 years, rates of asthma in New Mexico and in the country have been steadily
increasing. In 2000, approximately 10 percent of New Mexicans reported ever having asthma;
this rate currently stands around 13 percent (NMDH, 2011a ). The current rate for those ever
having been told they have asthma (lifetime prevalence) in the northwest health region is similar
at 12 percent (table 81). Between 2007 and 2009, adult lifetime prevalence of asthma in Cibola
and McKinley Counties was 10.6 percent and 13 percent, respectively (NMDH, 2011a). Children
have similar rates of current asthma and lifetime asthma as adults in the northwest health region.
Rates of asthma do not seem to differ by sex or ethnic group (NMDH, 2009).
Table 81. Rates of asthma in adults and children in the northwest health region and State
of New Mexico
Northwest Health
Region (95% CI)
New Mexico
(95% CI)
Population, 2010 436, 879 2,059,179
Current
prevalence
Lifetime
prevalence
Source: USCDC, 2009
Percent of adults who currently have
asthma
Abbreviations: CI – confidence interval
Percent of children who currently have
asthma
Percentage of adults who have ever been
told that they have asthma
Percentage of children who have ever been
told that they have asthma
7.4%
(6.1 – 8.8)
8.0%
(5.3 – 11.8)
11.9%
(10.3 – 13.8)
11.6%
(8.4 – 15.9)
8.6%
(7.8 – 9.5)
8.3%
(6.6 – 10.4)
13.5%
(12.5 – 14.7)
13.0%
(11.0 – 15.3)
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 387