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

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 HgTotal 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% 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 you