Dietary exposure to persistent organic pollutants and metals among Inuit and Chukchi in Russian Arctic Chukotka

Dudarev, Alexey A.

doi:10.3402/ijch.v71i0.18592

Cited by 26 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The study targeted randomly selected groups of indigenous individuals who were permanent residents of the coastal village of Uelen and the inland village of Kanchalan in the Chukotka Autonomous District (Okrug) in the Far East Region of Russia (for map see [10]). In the 2001 study, 251 residents of Uelen aged between 18 and 71 years were enrolled, of whom 132 were women.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Risk Modifiers of Exposure to Persistent Pollutants among Indigenous Peoples of Chukotka

Chashchin

Ковшов

Thomassen

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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The aim of the study was to assess temporal trends in health risks related to most common persistent contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethanes (DDTs), lead (Pb), as well as mercury (Hg) among indigenous peoples living in coastal areas of Chukotka in Arctic Russia. This is examined in relation to exposure pathways and a range of social and behavioral factors capable of modifying the exposure to these contaminants, including place of residence, income, traditional subsistence, alcohol consumption, and awareness of risk prevention. The primary exposure pathway for PCBs is shown to be the intake of traditional foods, which explained as much as 90% of the total health risk calculated employing established risk guidelines. Nearly 50% of past DDT-related health risks also appear to have been contributed by contaminated indoor surfaces involving commonly used DDT-containing insecticides. Individuals who practiced traditional activities are shown to have experienced a 4.4-fold higher risk of exposure to PCBs and a 1.3-fold higher risk for DDTs, Pb, and Hg. Low income, high consumption of marine mammal fat, alcohol consumption, and lack of awareness of health risk prevention are attributed to a further 2- to 6-fold increase in the risk of PCBs exposure. Low socioeconomic status enhances the health risks associated with exposure to the persistent contaminants examined.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Risk Modifiers of Exposure to Persistent Pollutants among Indigenous Peoples of Chukotka

Chashchin

Ковшов

Thomassen

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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“…Based on the PTS study findings, consumption restrictions were recommended for several species and tissues, and several risk communication measures were implemented to reduce contaminant exposure (36). The Ministry of Health Care and Social Development of the Russian Federation approved systematic population health inspections, contaminant waste clean-up projects and training sessions.…”

Section: Russia: Pops and Metals In Chukotkamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dudarev (36) reported that the comprehensive study approach in Chukotka and the thorough awareness campaign were very successful in producing desired “outcomes,” that is, implementation exercises and contaminant exposure reduction measures. However, to date there has been no follow-up study to investigate whether the measures taken have caused a desired “impact,” that is, a decrease in contaminant exposure.…”

Section: Russia: Pops and Metals In Chukotkamentioning

confidence: 99%

An update on risk communication in the Arctic

Krümmel

Gilman

2016

International Journal of Circumpolar Health

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BackgroundArctic residents can be exposed to a wide range of contaminants through consumption of traditional (country) foods (i.e. food from wild animals and plants that are hunted, caught or collected locally in the Arctic). Yet these foods provide excellent nutrition, promote social cohesion, meet some spiritual needs for connectedness to the land and water, reinforce cultural ties, are economically important and promote overall good health for many. The risk and benefit balance associated with the consumption of traditional Arctic foods is complicated to communicate and has been referred to as the “Arctic Dilemma”. This article gives an update on health risk communication in the Arctic region. It briefly summarizes some research on risk communication methodologies as well as approaches to an evaluation of the outcomes of risk communication initiatives. It provides information on specific initiatives in several Arctic countries, and particularly those that were directed at Indigenous populations. This article also summarizes some international versus local risk communication activities and the complexity of developing and delivering messages designed for different audiences. Finally, the potential application of social media for risk communication and a summary of “best practices” based on published literature and a survey of Inuit in a few Arctic countries are described.ConclusionSeveral of the risk communication initiatives portrayed in this article indicate that there is only limited awareness of the outcome of risk communication messages. In some cases, risk communication efforts appear to have been successful, at least when effectiveness is measured in an indirect way, for example, by lower contaminant levels. However, due to missing effectiveness evaluation studies, uncertainty remains as to whether a specific risk communication method was successful and could be clearly linked to behavioural changes that resulted in decreased contaminant exposure.

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“…Another study found that the mean PCB level of blubber samples taken from 20 bowhead whales near Barrow, Alaska was 458.5 (ng/g, w/w) (22). A study conducted to assess dietary exposures to POPs and metals in the nearby Chukotka region of the Russian Arctic found that consumption limits were warranted for certain marine and freshwater fish, some muscle tissues of waterfowl and seal, blubber of whale and seal, liver of most animals tested, and kidney tissues of reindeer, walrus, and seal (23). Researchers found elevated levels of PCBs in marine fish near a formerly used military base at Adak Island in the Aleutians that would trigger strict fish consumption advisories according to US EPA risk-based guidance (24).…”

Section: Summaries Of 5 Cbpr Exposure Assessmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community-based participatory research projects and policy engagement to protect environmental health on St Lawrence Island, Alaska

Miller

Waghiyi

Welfinger‐Smith

et al. 2013

International Journal of Circumpolar Health

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ObjectivesThis article synthesizes discussion of collaborative research results, interventions and policy engagement for St Lawrence Island (SLI), Alaska, during the years 2000–2012.MethodsAs part of on-going community-based participatory research (CBPR) studies on SLI, 5 discrete exposure-assessment projects were conducted: (a) a biomonitoring study of human blood serum; (b–d) 3 investigations of levels of contaminants in environmental media at an abandoned military site at Northeast Cape – using sediment cores and plants, semi-permeable membrane devices and blackfish, respectively; and (e) a study of traditional foods.ResultsBlood serum in residents of SLI showed elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with higher levels among those exposed to the military site at Northeast Cape, an important traditional subsistence-use area. Environmental studies at the military site demonstrated that the site is a continuing source of PCBs to a major watershed, and that clean-up operations at the military site generated PCB-contaminated dust on plants in the region. Important traditional foods eaten by the people of SLI showed elevated concentrations of PCBs, which are primarily derived from the long-range transport of persistent pollutants that are transported by atmospheric and marine currents from more southerly latitudes to the north.InterventionsAn important task for all CBPR projects is to conduct intervention strategies as needed in response to research results. Because of the findings of the CBPR projects on SLI, the CBPR team and the people of the Island are actively engaging in interventions to ensure cleanup of the formerly used military sites; reform chemicals policy on a national level; and eliminate persistent pollutants internationally. The goal is to make the Island and other northern/Arctic communities safe for themselves and future generations.ConclusionsAs part of the CBPR projects conducted from 2000 to 2012, a series of exposure assessments demonstrate that the leaders of SLI have reason to be concerned about the health of people due to the presence of carcinogenic chemicals as measured in biomonitoring and environmental samples and important traditional foods.

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Dietary exposure to persistent organic pollutants and metals among Inuit and Chukchi in Russian Arctic Chukotka

Cited by 26 publications

References 8 publications

Health Risk Modifiers of Exposure to Persistent Pollutants among Indigenous Peoples of Chukotka

Health Risk Modifiers of Exposure to Persistent Pollutants among Indigenous Peoples of Chukotka

An update on risk communication in the Arctic

Community-based participatory research projects and policy engagement to protect environmental health on St Lawrence Island, Alaska

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