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Risks to Human Health from a Changing Arctic. Jay Van Oostdam BSc, DVM, MPH Health 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
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Risks to Human Health from a Changing Arctic Jay Van Oostdam BSc, DVM, MPH Health 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
Trends in Infant Mortality Bjerregard and Young 1998
Northern Contaminants ProgramOne HealthMaternal 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
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
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