Risk Tradeoffs Associated with Traditional Food Advisories for Labrador Inuit

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bromage S ; Calder RSD ; Sunderland EM
• Description:
  The traditional Inuit diet includes wild birds, fish and marine mammals, which can contain high concentrations of the neurotoxicant methylmercury (MeHg). Hydroelectric development may increase MeHg concentrations in traditional foods. Consumption advisories are often used to mitigate such risks and can result in reduced intake of traditional foods. Data from a dietary survey, MeHg exposure assessment and risk analysis for individuals in three Inuit communities in Labrador, Canada (n = 1145) in 2014 indicate reducing traditional food intake is likely to exacerbate deficiencies in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamins B12 and B2. Traditional foods accounted for < 5% of per-capita calories but up to 70% of nutrients consumed. Although consumption advisories could lower neurodevelopmental risks associated with an increase in MeHg exposure (90th-percentile delta IQ = - 0.12 vs. - 0.34), they may lead to greater risks of cardiovascular mortality (90th-percentile increase: + 58% to + 116% vs. + 25%) and cancer mortality (90th-percentile increase + 2% to + 4% vs. no increase). Conversely, greater consumption of locally caught salmon mostly unaffected by hydroelectric flooding would lower all these risks (90th-percentile delta IQ = + 0.4; cardiovascular risk: - 45%; cancer risk: - 1.4%). We thus conclude that continued consumption of traditional foods is essential for Inuit health in these communities. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Diet Neoplasms Nervous System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Fish Advisory Cancer Rates Cardiovascular System Disease Dietary Effects Dietary Transition Exposure Assessment Indigenous Health Methylmercury Neurotoxic Agents Nutrition Risk Analysis

  More +
• ISSN:
  0013-9351
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  496-506
• Volume:
  168
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055561
• Citation:
  Environ Res 2019 Jan; 168:496-506
• Contact Point Address:
  Ryan S.D. Calder, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, 1116 Hudson Hall, Box 90287, Durham, NC 27708, USA
• Email:
  ryan.calder@duke.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Methylmercury(1+) (CAS RN 22967-92-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Research
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e45337e71ee6b89c6ced3a1943a14383f39591a3e9815b4eaa88f77b34df70256c948a3c3cd07a95578bd875710fbe53b233e8b36f66349f592a6a53445a2db2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/213386/cdc_213386_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 621.74 KB ]