Andrew P. Gilman

Exposure of Arctic populations to methylmercury from consumption of marine food: an updated risk-benefit assessment

Abstract Recent and powerful epidemiological studies have been used as a basis for revising international and domestic guidelines for human exposure to mercury. Long-range transport of mercury into the Arctic makes some Arctic peoples consuming traditional marine foods, especially newborns, children and pregnant women, very vulnerable to harmful exposures. The WHO, the USEPA and Health Canada have all recently revised their mercury intake guidelines as a result of neurological effects reported in children exposed in utero and adults. Guidance values are equivalent to 0.23 µg/kg-bw/d, 0.1 µg/kg-bw/d and 0.2 µg/kg-bw/d respectively. Differences between the numbers represent slight differences in the uncertainty factors applied, rather than in toxicological interpretation. More recent findings suggest that mercury may also be a factor in ischemic heart disease, which could lower guidance values in the future. Considering the benefits of marine fatty acids (n–3 fatty acids) and guidance that populations consume 300–400g fish/week, consumers face a reality that most open ocean and relatively ‘unpolluted’ fish species contain levels of mercury that would lead to exposures at current guidance levels. Clearly, there is no more room for further mercury pollution and there is an urgent need for international action to reduce mercury emissions. Concomitantly, while there may be a need for public health authorities to provide consumption advisories to some highly exposed populations, such as in the Arctic, there remains a need to better understand the interactions and benefits associated with marine foods that may reduce health risks associated with low-level mercury exposure. (Int J Circumpolar Health 2005; 64(2):121–136)

Binding of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin to AH receptor in placentas from normal versus abnormal pregnancy outcomes

Binding of [3H]2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin to AH receptor was characterized in cytosol from human placentas in which the pregnancy outcome was normal compared with pregnancies in which there was some adverse outcome (premature birth; intrauterine growth retardation; structural abnormality). No significant difference was detected between normal and adverse outcomes in the concentration of AH receptor sites (Bmax) nor in the affinity with which [3H]TCDD bound to the receptor (Kd). Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity, a CYP1A1 enzyme regulated by the AH receptor, was elevated in placental microsomes from smokers; this elevation was associated with intrauterine growth retardation.

An update on risk communication in the Arctic

Background Arctic 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. Conclusion Several 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.

Arctic health policy: contribution of scientific data.

In Western Hemisphere arctic regions, scientific findings in humans, wildlife, and the environment have resulted in major governmental policy formulations. Government policy resulted in establishment of an effective international organization to address scientifically identified problems, including health disparities in arctic indigenous populations. Western scientific data and indigenous knowledge from initial international programs led to international agreements restricting certain persistent organic pollutants. In recent years, scientific data, and indigenous traditional knowledge, have resulted in governmental policy in the United States, Canada, and Nordic countries that includes the full participation of indigenous residents in defining research agendas, interpreting data, communicating information, and local community policy formulation.

Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP)—IPY Meeting in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada (June 2009), and AMAP Human Health Assessment 2009

The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Human Health Assessment Group (HHAG) undertook an assessment and meeting to summarize arctic contaminant and human health research undertaken during the International Polar Years (IPYs). This meeting took place in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada, on June 10–12, 2009. This report summarizes the much more voluminous document AMAP Assessment 2009: Human Health in the Arctic (AMAP 2009a) that was released and discussed at the Iqaluit meeting.

Environmental Review: Canada's Contribution to the International Reduction of Certain Persistent Organic Pollutants

Persistent organic pollutants, commonly called POPs, are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances released into the environment primarily through a variety of human activities. POPs fell into three broad categories: pesticides such as aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex, toxaphene, and hexachlorobenzene; industrial substance such as polychlorinated biphenyls; and chemical by-products and contaminants of various industrial processes such as dioxin, furans, and hexachlorobenzene. POPs transported across national boundaries through air and watersheds are widely recognized to be of global concern. In order to protect and improve the environment and to reduce risks to health, national and international actions have already been directed towards severe reduction, and in some cases elimination of the release of several POPs. This paper briefly describes, from a Canadian perspective, some national and international initiatives undertaken in the last 15 years that are designed to reduce levels of POPs. These initiatives include: (1) the Canadian Toxic Substances Management Policy, (2) the Canada-US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (1987), (3) the Canada-US Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy, (4) the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, and (5) the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe POPs Protocol to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. Negotiations are underway for a global agreement to control POPs.