Monitoring Temporal Trends of Human Environmental Contaminants in the NWT and Nunavut

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: contaminants, health

Principal Investigator: McLeod, Deborah (1)
Licence Number: 13746
Organization: Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Authority
Licensed Year(s): 2006 2005
Issued: Jan 20, 2005
Project Team: Erica Myle

Objective(s): The main purpose of the study is to establish a time trend of human exposure to specific environmental contaminants. A baseline study was done in the Inuvik region in 1999-2000. This project is a follow-up assessment to the baseline study. Through the collection and analysis of human blood and hair samples, the study will assess human exposure to specific contaminants across a representative cross-section of moderately and highly exposed regions (Inuvik and Baffin regions). It will update geographic patterns of exposure and provide data to establish exposure trends over time. The project will also collect information on dietary habits and describe relationships between contaminant exposure and frequency of consumption of traditional/country foods and selected lifestyle factors. It is hoped that results from this study will strengthen national and international efforst to limit the global pollution that affects northern people. Invormation collected about lifestyle during pregnancy will help to explain relationships between lifestyle and exposure to environmental contaminants, and to promote healthy babies and pregnancies in the Inuvik Region.