Intercommunity Comparison of Blood Lead Concentrations in Eeyou Istchee

and Lead Shot Use as a Potential Exposure Source

Ian Martin, Evert Nieboer, Leonard Tsuji and others (consortium of Laval, McGill, McMaster, and Waterloo Universities; and the Cree Board

of Health and Social Services of James Bay)

Montreal, March 21-22, 2012

Regional Map

Nituuchischaayihtitaau Aschii- History• Covel Report (2001)• Critical review of the Covel Report (June 2002)• Oujé-Bougoumou/Nemaska study: October-

November 2002(report was published in 2005)• Needs and Feasibility Study: 2003-2004• Mistissini Pilot Study: 2005 (report in 2007)• Nituuchischaayihtitaau Aschii: 2007- Present• Eastmain/Wemindji Report (May 2011)• Project Final Report (by the end of 2012)

Highlights of Findings - Contaminants

1.0 – Action Level for Other Adults

0.48 – Action Level for Children & Women 15-39

0.14 – CHISASIBI

µmol/L

0.10 – SOUTHERN QUEBEC POPULATION (2001) 0.09 – EASTMAIN / MISTISSINI / NEMASKA0.06 – WASWANIPI

0.22 – WHAPMAGOOSTUI

0.11 – WASKAGANISH / WEMINDJI / OUJÉ- BOUGOUMOU

[GEOMs]

Lead in Blood - 1

Tamhane Post Hoc Test (unequal sample sizes and variances)

• Lead shot users have sig. elevated blood lead by 3 measures

• Only rank of lead level satisfies ANOVA assumption of equal variances

• Elevated blood lead is a function of community of residence (community is more important than use of lead shot)• Is the sharing of game killed with lead shot more responsible for elevated blood lead, as opposed to whether or not individuals hunt with lead shot?

• Odds ratio sig. > 1• Relative risk (RR) of elevated lead for shot users = 2.9

• CA-1 a measure of: -Pb, -Hg, and + Cd• CA-2 a measure of: +Cd, +Pb, and -Ni• CA-3 a measure of: +Pb, and -Mo• CA-4 a measure of: +Co, +Pb, and -Ni

• No interaction of hunt and smoke status• For hunting, highest significant effects are CA-1 (-Pb, -Hg) and univariate Pb • (Hg in CA-1 reflects consumption of traditional foods, esp. fish)• For smoking, highest significant effects are CA-1 (+Cd), CA-2 (+Cd, +Pb) and univariate Cd

Tsuji et al. Science of the Total Environment 2008; 393:291-298

CONCLUSIONS• Blood lead varies between communities• Blood lead increases with age and gender( males >

females)• Exposure risk higher if ‘using lead shot’; the latter

constitutes a complex exposure variable (not only use of gun; eating bagged game is implied by factor/partial correlation analysis);smoking a source

• A few children and some women of reproductive age exceeded the 0.48 µmol/L guideline; more of course if the new guideline of 0.24 µmol/L were adopted

• Low CA-1 scores reflect high consumption of traditional foods:more Pb, Hg, and less Cd• High CA-2 scores may reflect minor variances in bear meat (and some market foods?)• High CA-3 scores reflect high traditional fish, birds, organ meats, lard: more Pb• Market vegetables & salad consumption reflected in lower Pb,Co,Cd (lower CA-2, CA-4)