risks to human health from a changing arctic
DESCRIPTION
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 - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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