Ohio researchers seek baby teeth to study health effects of road-spread oil brine

For more than forty years, Ohio townships have applied oilfield brine—rich in radium—to roadways as a de-icing agent, a practice linked to elevated cancer risks. Ohio State University’s Arbor Quist is launching an exploratory study this summer to examine whether chronic exposure is harming community health. The research will gather unconventional biological specimens, including naturally shed baby teeth and adult toenail clippings, along with soil samples from Licking, Coshocton and Ashtabula counties.

Eligible adults must have lived in Licking County for the past year, while donated teeth must come from children whose mothers resided there during the second and third trimesters and the child's first year. Incentives such as gift cards are offered. The effort aligns with local advocates like Jacque Morgan, who have pressed the Ohio Senate to pass Bill 329 banning brine use, and with broader state data showing the material exceeds radioactive limits set by the Ohio Administrative Code. Researchers aim to clarify how radium, which mimics calcium and decays into radon, may contribute to cancer and other health issues, potentially informing policy decisions.