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Toxics Monitoring of Human Populations in Alaska

Toxics Monitoring of Human Populations in Alaska. Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. What Is ATSDR?. A federal (DHHS) public health agency that investigates and strives to prevent human health problems caused by exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment. Why Monitor? .

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Toxics Monitoring of Human Populations in Alaska

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  1. Toxics Monitoring of Human Populations in Alaska Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry

  2. What Is ATSDR? • A federal (DHHS) public health agency that investigates and strives to prevent human health problems caused by exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment.

  3. Why Monitor? • From the public health perspective we need to answer the question: “What does this mean to my health?”

  4. The Arctic Dilemma • Risk from chemicals in subsistence foods vs. nutritional & cultural benefits of subsistence lifestyle • Benefits of subsistence foods vs. risk of switching to store-bought foods

  5. Sources of Contaminants • Local • Military sites • Industry • Mining • Global • Air deposition

  6. What’s Happening in Alaska? • There is no comprehensive human monitoring in Alaska • Studies are fragmented, isolated, focused on one region, issue, or limited number of contaminants

  7. Examples • Maternal cord blood study- CDC • North Slope, Aleutians, other areas • Enrolling pregnant women • Get fetal and maternal blood • Plan to follow infants through life • Look at environmental contaminants & essential vitamins/elements

  8. Examples – cont. • Evaluating mercury levels in mummies. • Human monitoring in Aleutian/ Pribilof Islands • NCEH Breast cancer pilot study • NA serum banked since 1980’s • Test serum for contaminants

  9. What the Future Holds • Alaska Traditional Diet Project • Dietary surveys to identify important exposures • Alaska Wild and Traditional Food Safety Program • Tracking human exposure

  10. Learn from International Experiences • Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program • www.amap.no • Northern Contaminants Program • www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/NCP

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