Michael Anastario
Assistant Professor
Health SciencesNorthern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona
michael.anastario@nau.edu
Fellowship Project: Exposure to heavy metals among Indigenous people who inject methamphetamine
Michael (Mike) Anastario is an Assistant Professor of Health Sciences at Northern Arizona University. Mike is a sociologist who draws on his research experience with ethnographic and quantitative methods to investigate how sequential phenomena concerning human-chemical interactions shape and reflect rural health disparities. He is currently focused on developing life history calendars that retrospectively assess: 1. Occupational and agrichemical exposure sequences among foreign-born agricultural workers in the US; and 2. Polysubstance use sequences among Indigenous people who use injection drugs. He is interested in the ways that everyday storytelling can inform the development of quantitative methods used in rural and environmental health research. Mike earned his PhD in Sociology from Boston College.
This project investigates the heightened health risks of injection methamphetamine use, which can lead to infectious diseases, organ damage, psychosis, overdose, and early death, potentially exacerbated by concurrent exposure to environmental toxicants such as lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg). Limited research exists on the sources of heavy metals exposure and their biological accumulation among users, despite knowledge of these metals in meth production. The issue is notably pressing among American Indian communities, where meth use is prevalent and associated with the highest rates of stimulant-related overdose deaths and hepatitis C infections. Preliminary studies with Indigenous people who inject methamphetamine (IPWIM) in Montana reveal a common practice of direct syringe loading without filtration, possibly increasing heavy metal exposure and accumulation. Addressing methodological sensitivities around specimen collection in tribal communities, this research employs non-invasive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for on-site heavy metal assessment. Adhering to harm reduction principles, the study aims to assess the presence of heavy metals in injection substances, the impact of filtration on metal concentration, and the link between unfiltered injection and metal accumulation in the body. Using a community-engaged approach, the research will gather biochemical, qualitative, and quantitative data from 100 Fort Peck Tribal members (Assiniboine and Sioux), expanding on previous academic-tribal collaborations.
