Ngaarda Breakfast Podcast - 2026-4-1

01-04-2026

Dr Christine Jeffery-Stokes in conversation with Robin Ray, Nauta Media

Listen to radio interview (Play from 27:13) : https://omny.fm/shows/ngaarda-breakfast/ngaarda-breakfast-podcast-2026-4-1?t=27m13s

Dr Jeffery-Stokes described her collaborative work with her sister-in-law, Annette Stokes, who is Wongutha, Mulba-Ngadu and Anangu, and holds an Order of Australia and an Honorary Doctorate from UWA for her research contributions. Together, they led the Western Desert Kidney Health Project (2010–2014), which investigated the early signs of renal disease in children and adults across five remote towns and five remote communities in the Goldfields region.

The study used point-of-care testing to assess kidney disease risk factors on site and included both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal participants living in these communities, primarily teachers, nurses, and police officers who had not grown up in the region. The expectation was that non-Aboriginal participants would reflect national averages and that Aboriginal participants would show higher rates of early-onset kidney disease.

However, the findings were unexpected. Non-Aboriginal children were found to be, if anything, worse off than Aboriginal children, and non-Aboriginal adults showed rates of risk factors—such as high blood pressure and protein in the urine—at least double national averages. High rates of early-onset disease were also observed in Aboriginal participants. In addition, most participants showed elevated levels of acid in urine and blood, suggesting a potential toxic exposure rather than a pattern explained by ethnicity.

This prompted further investigation into environmental factors, particularly drinking water quality. The team identified high nitrate levels in bore water supplies across several towns, including Leonora, Laverton and Menzies, where groundwater is directly pumped into town water systems. Similar concerns were identified in nearby Aboriginal communities. Dr Jeffery-Stokes noted that while nitrate levels were recorded in annual water reports, the broader health implications had not been fully examined.

Further work included testing children in one community, where results indicated the presence of arsenic in urine samples. This raised further concerns about potential exposure to heavy metals such as uranium, lead, mercury, nickel and manganese, which may occur naturally in regional geology but become harmful when present in drinking water.

Dr Jeffery-Stokes explained that despite efforts, access to comprehensive water testing data has been limited, leading the team to explore alternative approaches to understanding exposure pathways. This included consideration of biological markers, such as hair and bone, before identifying baby teeth as a potential long-term record of environmental exposure.

This approach has led to the development of the Heavy Metal Tooth Fairy Project. The project aims to collect baby teeth from children across remote desert communities, alongside comparative samples from Perth, for analysis at the University of Western Australia using mass spectrometry to detect trace elements, including arsenic and other heavy metals. Initial testing on a small number of teeth has shown promising results.

In parallel, the project includes a strong education and engagement component. A “tooth fairy” citizen science program will be delivered in schools across Kalgoorlie, Norseman, Wiluna and surrounding desert communities. Students will be supported to test drinking water for nitrate, learn about water sources and purification, and participate in classroom-based water table demonstrations. The program also aims to encourage interest in science and environmental health, with each participating child receiving oral health resources including a toothbrush and toothpaste.

A sand animation video, developed with 12 children and three artists in residence using traditional millwindiya storytelling methods, is currently in production and will be released on YouTube and Facebook in the coming weeks.

Dr Jeffery-Stokes also highlighted that nitrate exposure is increasingly recognised as a significant environmental health issue, with associations reported in the literature with kidney disease, thyroid disease, stillbirth, birth defects, and neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions. She noted that spatial patterns of high nitrate groundwater use appear to align with regions of higher dialysis prevalence, including across the Goldfields, Pilbara, Midwest, Northern Territory and parts of South Australia, with potential relevance for other regions of Australia.