1. 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

2. Outline Arctic – health perspectives Arctic – population health NCP – contaminant monitoring Climate change Socio-economic changes Dietary change

3. Human Health Indicators – infant mortality

4. births )

5. Trends in Infant Mortality Bjerregard and Young 1998

6. 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

8. Total HgTotal Hg

9. NCP / AMAP – Effects studies PCBs, Hg – Infant Development - subtle –Foetal growth –Neurobehaviour - learning –Immune system Pb – Neurobehaviour - attention, neuromotor

10. NCP / AMAP – Effect studies Cardiovascular risk -Hg – present levels of exposure -Blood pressure -Oxidative stress -Population Impact

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Climate Change / Variability Indirect Impacts Food security –Traditional foods Water Security –Quality, access, Permafrost – community infrastructure Social, psychological, cultural well being –Interactions

15. Socio-economic Change Industrial development –Eg. Oil and Gas, Diamonds, –Positive Impacts Employment, health care, –Negative Impacts Social disruption, pollution

16. Traditional Foods – Arctic Dilemma Risks – Contaminant Exposure Benefits –Economic - $ –Nutritional – key nutrients

17. Traditional Foods – Social, cultural values.

18. 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

19. Food Security Food Access –nutritionally adequate, culturally appropriate Food security – aboriginal peoples –Canada – insecure - 50% - 1-2 times per month –Arctic – vulnerability magnified

20. Percentage of households with food insecurity, by province/territory, Canada, 2007–2008. Source: Canadian Community Health Survey, 2007–2008.

21. Conclusions Climate –change - faster Contaminants – human exposure - changing Socioeconomic – resources –Arctic populations - Resilience

22. Thank you