Indigenous communities living in the Antofagasta region of northern Chile (near the Atacama Desert) are exposed to harmful levels of environmental pollution, largely resulting from the abundant mining industry in the region. Heavy metal particulate matter found in the air and soil can have detrimental impacts on human health, such as liver and kidney damage, nervous system disorders, and birth defects. To further study the effects of heavy metal toxicity, this research project uses zebrafish as a model organism for human embryonic development. Zebrafish embryos were exposed from 0-96 hours post fertilization to toxicants extracted from rooftop dusts collected in communities in northern Chile. Microscopic analysis of endpoints such as mortality and common structural defects were performed. Results showed that toxicants from the villages of Chiu Chiu, Toconce, and Caspana appear to be the most toxic to embryos, with prominent effects in hatching and mortality rates. These sites are all located along the Rio Salado in the eastern region. These dust samples had elevated geoaccumulation and enrichment factors for Cu, As, Cr, Pb, Cd, and Mo, suggesting that these sites were highly contaminated with metals and that there is a highly anthropogenic contribution. Overall, this research suggests that transported dust from mining industries in the Antofagasta region may impact human development.
