Risks to Human Health from a Changing Arctic

Jay Van Oostdam BSc, DVM, MPHHealth Canada, HECSBr

For Canadian Public Health Association

Annual Conference

June 12, 2012

Edmonton

Outline

• Arctic – health perspectives

• Arctic – population health

• NCP – contaminant monitoring

• Climate change

• Socio-economic changes

• Dietary change

Human Health

• Indicators – infant mortality

Table 7.2.3: Circumpolar Infant Mortality (per 1000 live births) Russian Federation (2003) 12.4 USA (2003) 6.9

Murmansk Oblast 8.9 Alaska (2003) 7.0 Kareliya Republic 8.1 Arkhangelsk Oblast 12.4 Norway (2000-2004) 3.6 [Nenets AO] 29.3 Nordland 3.9 Komi Republic 9.4 Troms 4.0 Yamal-Nenets AO 12.7 Finnmark 4.7 Khanty-Mansi AO 7.8 Taymyr AO 26 Finland (2000-2004) 3.3 Evenky AO 10.9 Lapland (2000-2004) 3.8 Sakha Republic 13.2 Magadan Oblast 11.9 Sweden (2000-2004) 3.3 Kamchatka Oblast 14.3 Norrbotten 4.6 [Koryak AO] 11.2 Denmark 4.7 Chukchi AO 28.0 Greenland (2000-2004) 12.7

Canada (2003) 5.3 Greenland (2001-2005) 16.9 Yukon 6.0 Faroe Islands (2001-2005) 3.2 Northwest Territories 5.7 Nunavut 19.8 Iceland (2001-2005) 2.5

Sources: ArcticStat Circumpolar Database (http://www.arcticstat.org/searchregion.aspx), Statistics Canada, Russian Fed. State Statistics Service, Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics, NOMESKO, Statistics Norway. Young TK., Circumpolar Health Indicators, Circumpolar Health Supplements 2008; 3

births)

Trends in Infant Mortality

Bjerregard and Young 1998

Northern Contaminants Program

One Health

Maternal Blood Contaminant Monitoring

J. Van Oostdam, E. Dewailly, P. Ayotte, G. Muckle, A. Gilman, J.P. Weber, M. Potyrala, B. Armstrong, J. Walker ,

K. Tofflemire, M. Demers, S. Moss

Total Hg

NCP / AMAP – Effects studies

• PCBs, Hg – Infant Development - subtle– Foetal growth

– Neurobehaviour - learning

– Immune system

• Pb – Neurobehaviour - attention, neuromotor

NCP / AMAP – Effect studies

Cardiovascular risk -Hg – present levels of exposure-Blood pressure-Oxidative stress

-Population Impact

Climate Change - Contaminants

• Climate, weather, ocean, atmospheric – Complex patterns – interactions– Redistribution of contaminants – POPs, Hg

• Monitor – validate models

– Hg – bacteria – increase methylation, • MeHg – toxic

• Traditional foods – new dietary advice

AMAP 2009

Climate Change / Variability Direct Impacts

• Extreme precipitation– Natural disasters – landslides

• Unpredictable weather– Strandings– Traditional hunt / travel

• Temperature related – temp

• Change in disease patterns

Canada 2008, ACIA 2005

Climate Change / Variability Indirect Impacts

UVB - stratospheric ozone– Immunosuppression, skin cancer,

• New / Emerging diseases– Zoonotic – spread temperature related events

• Parasites, Salmonella, Campylobacter

– Insect vectors - survival, spread north• Lyme disease, tick borne encephalitis

Climate Change / Variability Indirect Impacts

• Food security– Traditional foods

• Water Security– Quality, access,

• Permafrost – community infrastructure

• Social, psychological, cultural well being– Interactions

Socio-economic Change

• Industrial development– Eg. Oil and Gas, Diamonds,

– Positive Impacts• Employment, health care,

– Negative Impacts• Social disruption, pollution

Traditional Foods – Arctic Dilemma

• Risks – Contaminant Exposure

• Benefits – Economic - $– Nutritional – key nutrients

Traditional Foods – Social, cultural values

.

Dietary Transition

• Arctic – social, economic, cultural change

• Dietary transition – traditional foods– Benefits – social, cultural, spiritual, economic– Nutrition – change in fat / sugar intake– Chronic disease - impacts

Food Security

• Food Access – nutritionally adequate, culturally appropriate

• Food security – aboriginal peoples– Canada – insecure - 50% - 1-2 times per month– Arctic – vulnerability magnified

Percentage of households with food insecurity, by province/territory, Canada, 2007–2008.

                                                                                                                                   

Source: Canadian Community Health Survey, 2007–2008.

Conclusions

• Climate – change - faster

• Contaminants – human exposure - changing

• Socioeconomic – resources– Arctic populations - Resilience

Thank youThank you