Background: Environmental toxicants such as methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides are potentially harmful pollutants present in contaminated food, soil, air, and water. Exposure to these ecologically relevant toxicants is prominent in Northern Canadian populations. Previous work focused on toxicant exposure during pregnancy as a threat to fetal neurodevelopment. However, little is known about the individual and combined effects of these toxicants on maternal health during pregnancy and post-partum. Methods: A scoping review was conducted to synthesize the current knowledge regarding individual and combined effects of methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides on maternal behaviour and the maternal brain. Relevant studies were identified through the PubMed, Embase, and Toxline databases. Literature involving animal models and one human cohort were included in the review. Results: Research findings indicate that exposures to these environmental toxicants are associated with neurochemical changes in rodent models. Animal models provided the majority of information on toxicant-induced alterations in maternal care behaviours. Molecular and hormonal changes hypothesized to underlie these alterations were also addressed, although studies assessing toxicant co-exposure were limited. Conclusion: This review speaks to the limited knowledge regarding effects of these persistent organic pollutants on the maternal brain and related behavioural outcomes. Further research is required to better comprehend any such effects on maternal brain and behaviour, as maternal care is an important contributor to offspring neurodevelopment.

Résumé : (traduction)La malaria est une maladie parasitaire transmise par les moustiques lorsqu'ils se nourrissent de sang. Le risque de contracter la malaria est le plus élevé chez les personnes qui habitent les pays tropicaux en raison de l'humidité omniprésente qui favorise les infections. En conséquence, le taux de mortalité des femmes et des enfants atteints de malaria est disproportionnellement élevé en Afrique subsaharienne. Le manque d'éducation sanitaire et de connaissances sur la malaria constitue d'être un obstacle important contre l'efficacité de la prévention et du traitement de cette maladie. Le manque d'éducation sanitaire a réduit l'efficacité des agents antimalariques, comme le médicament Artemether Lumefantrine, car ceux-ci sont distribués et administrés par des personnes non formées. En raison du manque de données sur l'incidence et de données de prévalence, il est difficile d'approvisionner adéquatement les pays endémiques en médicaments. De plus, le manque de connaissances sur la pathogenèse et la transmission de la malaria a empêché plusieurs personnes à se faire traiter rapidement et à adopter des mesures préventives. Récemment, la mise en oeuvre de programmes d'édu-cation sanitaire par des organismes internationaux a permis aux professionnels de la santé locaux et ambulants d'être éduqués sur la maladie et sur les mé-thodes d'administration d'agents antimalariques. Mots-clés :Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, Afrique subsaharienne, niveau d'instruction, moustique Anopheles Abstract:Malaria is a parasitic disease that is transmitted by mosquitos during their blood meal. The risk of contracting malaria is highest for people in tropical countries, due to the ever-present humid weather that allows yearly infections. Consequently, sub-Saharan Africa has a disproportionately higher rate of death among women and children with malaria. One of the major barriers identified in the efficacy of malaria treatment and prevention is the lack of health education and literacy. The lack of health education has decreased the efficacy of antimalarial drugs, such as Artemether Lumefantrine, due to the distribution and administration of the drug by untrained persons. The lack of incidence and prevalence data makes it difficult to ensure adequate supply of the drug in endemic countries. Furthermore, the lack of knowledge of malaria pathogenesis and transmission has prevented many from promptly seeking treatment and practicing preventative care methods. Recently, the implementation of health education programs by international organizations has allowed local and travelling healthcare practitioners to be educated on the disease and methods of antimalarial drug administration.

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