NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Sahtu Settlement Area

Tags: contaminants, health, social sciences, fish, traditional food, culture, market food, nutrition

Objective(s): To assess the risk for mercury exposure posed by fish consumption in the community of Tulita in the past summer and current winter seasons.

Project Description: The objectives of this research project are: To assess the risk for mercury exposure posed by fish consumption in the community of Tulita in the past summer and current winter seasons; To examine the relationship between the consumption of sweetened beverages (low nutrient market food) and fish consumption; and To explore the social and cultural importance of fish (traditional food) to the Dene/Métis in Tulita. The study will take place in the Dene/Métis community of Tulita, Northwest Territories. A dietary interview will be conducted and hair samples will be collected from the 8 - 10 families who regularly fish from the Kelly Lake. This represents those who would have the highest fish consumption intakes. Fifteen households will be randomly sampled to assess fish consumption levels in the community. Households will be randomly selected by taking every third house on the list until the desired number of households is reached. In each home an elder, an adult and a child will be interviewed to represent three generations of fish consumers. Traditional food consumption has found to vary with older adults tending to consume more traditional food than younger adults and children. Local research assistants will be hired and trained in standardized data collection methods for research. With each participant, a local research assistant will conduct a 1) food frequency dietary survey and 2) collect a hair sample for mercury analysis. Food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) developed for Sahtù region fish consumption will be validated for Tulita by verifying species consumed with local experts. Consumption frequencies will be assessed for winter and summer seasons representing high and low fish harvest periods. The quantity of fish usually consumed will be assessed using food models and cups, bowls and plates. Pictures of fish species will help interviewers identify food species with study respondents. The FFQ to assess sweetened beverages will be validated, that is, verified so it represents community food sources. Hair samples will be collected from participants and will be analyzed for total mercury using standardized procedures. Only individuals with hair longer than six to nine cm will be able to have at least two measurements of hair mercury to confirm the more recent (winter) and the more distant (summer) FFQ. Two samples will be collected from 5 people, which will be used to validate the laboratory total hair mercury. A WHO reference lab at Health Canada has offered this service. We will compare results from both labs as quality assurance step. Semi-structured, conversation style, qualitative interviews will be carried out with 5 – 8 individuals who are knowledgeable about traditional food in Tulita. Interviews will last about 30 minutes to an hour and be audio recorded. Knowledgeable individuals will be selected with the help of, and might include, community partners. Questions will seek to understand the social significance of fish specifically, and traditional food more generally, in the contemporary context of Tulita. The meaning of traditional food and the constraints and enabling factors that shape current traditional food practices will be examined. Individual interviews will be co-conducted by Treena Delormier and a local research assistant, audio recorded, transcribed and the text analyzed using a framework developed and tested by Dr. Delormier and her colleagues. The Tulita Renewable Resource Council has been involved in designing the study with the research team to best address the research questions and objectives in a community appropriate and scientifically sound way. This means that the ownership and responsibility of the research process is shared and is inclusive and respectful of different points of view of the research partners. A research agreement is in the process of being negotiated with the community which outlines the roles and responsibilities of the research partners, and as process facilitates clearer understandings of the research partners. The study was designed to include community perspectives of the research topic. Local perspectives and knowledge of food use is valuable for interpreting the meanings and understandings from community perspectives and enhance scientific findings providing a social context for nutrient and contaminant focused results. Participants will receive the results of their hair mercury concentrations by letter indicating whether their level is 'acceptable' or higher 'than acceptable'. If their results are higher than acceptable they will be provided with the latest recommendations developed for the Sahtù region, wherein Tulita is located for advising individuals on how to manage mercury exposure through fish consumption, and a list of resource people and organizations to contact if they would like more information about their results. A protocol is being developed with the local and regional health authorities to include a copy of the mercury results in participant medical charts with the Chief Medical Health Officer’s direction. The study results will be disseminated to the community of Tulita in the form of a series of reports (preliminary, final and revised final). The researchers will assist community stakeholders in preparing the forms (for e.g. local public media, presentations) of the dissemination of results to the community. A report of the results will be submitted to the Northern Contaminants Program in 2011, and the organizations represented by those on the research team. A presentation will be made at the NCP results presentation workshop in September 2011. The research team intends to disseminate the findings in peer reviewed journals. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from February 18, 2011 to September 30, 2011.