laurie chan: chemical pollution, ecosystem health and food security
DESCRIPTION
Dr. Laurie Chan, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Toxicology and Environmental Health, Director of the Center for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, University of Ottawa, spoke at the Commission for Environmental Cooperation's (CEC) Chemicals Management Forum en San Antonio, Texas, July 15, 2012. More information at http://www.cec.org/chemicals2012TRANSCRIPT
Chemical Pollution, Ecosystem Health and Food Security Laurie Hing Man Chan, Ph.D.
Professor and Canada Research Chair in Toxicology and Environmental Health
University of Ottawa
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
BAPTA-AM 5 µM
LD
H r
ele
as
e (
%o
f c
on
tro
l)0 µM MeHg
1µM MeHg******
##
Figure 7: Effect of intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA/AM on MeHg-induced cell death
NSC34 Neuronal neuron spinal chord × hybrid Cell Line
Community–based Research
Is our food and water safe?
First Nations: 700,000 n
Inuit: 50,000 n
First Nations Holistic Health Determinants Model
AFN, 2005
biosphereglobal ecosystem
regional ecosystemlocal ecosytem
community
home + workplace
Health & well-being
chemical pollution
biophysical elements
economic factors
culture
biological factors
socio-political situation
Ecosystem Health
High illness rate near oilsands worrisome, says Alberta health official
Last Updated Fri, 10 Mar 2006 13:00:46 EST CBC News
Leukemia, lymphomas, lupus, and autoimmune diseases, have been diagnosed in Fort Chipewyan, a community of about 1,200 people living 300 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.
National Pollutant Release Inventory Distribution
Distribution of Aboriginal Communities across Canada
Aboriginal Communities and NPRI Facilities
Releases of Pollutants Across and Number of Aboriginal Communities that are within 50 km
Pollutant Facilities Sum Releas
e
Units Communities
Population
Cadmium 151 160800 kg 145 83200
Lead 311 1670700 kg 176 91500
Arsenic 127 203700 kg 150 78100
Mercury 172 4500 kg 135 80100
Dioxins and Furans 190 70 g 212 99400
Ammonia 251 33900 tonnes 195 105900
Carbon Monoxide 503 544000 tonnes 291 145700
Sulphur Dioxide 344 1043700 tonnes 226 121300
Particulate Matter (PM) 565 107800 tonnes 291 144900
PM2.5 877 36600 tonnes 336 182900
PM10 978 62000 tonnes 348 177600
Volatile Organic Carbon 719 158900 tonnes 290 147600
17
Birth Outcomes for communities within the Interior Health region by watershed
Long Range Transport of Global Pollutants
AMAP 2005
Tracking Pollution from China to N. America
NASA 2008
Persistent Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT) Compounds
• PBT pollutants are chemicals that are toxic• persist in the environment and• bioaccumulate in food chains and, thus,• pose risks to human health and ecosystems
Persistent Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT) Compounds • alkyl-lead • mercury and its compou
nds • PAH - benzo(a)pyrene
• dioxins and furans • mirex • Chlordane
aldrin/dieldrin
• DDT, DDD, DDE
• PCBs • hexachlorobenzene toxaphene
PBDE
PFOS
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/pbt/cheminfo.htm
_x0004_m
ale
_x0006_f
em
ale
_x0004_m
ale
_x0006_f
em
ale
_x0004_m
ale
_x0006_f
em
ale
_x0004_m
ale
_x0006_f
em
ale
_x0003_<20 _x0005_20-40 _x0005_41-60 _x0003_>60
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800Traditional FoodsMarket Foods
Age and Gender Group
Mean
PFC
Exp
osu
re (
ng
/day)
Eat traditional food?
BENEFITSNutritionTasteSocial + cultural valuesHealth (fitness, etc.)Saves $
RISKSContaminants (health risks uncertain)
Statistics Canada, 2005
↓ number of plant species
↑ concern of environmental contaminants
↓ density of
species
↓ harvesting
↑ sedentary life
↓ dietary diversity
↓ cultural moral↓ culture
specific food activities
OBESITY, DIABETES, ALCOHOLISM, GALL BLADDER DISEASE, HEART DISEASE, ANEMIA, TOOTH LOSS,
INFECTIONS, CANCER
Loss of Traditional Food Systems
Inuit Health Survey
Canadian Icebreaker: Amundsen
First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study (2008-2017)
www.FNFNES.ca
First Nations First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study
• ~10 - 15 communities per year and returning back in the last 2 years
• Random sampling
• Resolution of the Special Assembly of AFN
• 100 communities from 2008-2018• Moving from the West to the East
32
First Nations First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study
First Nations Food, Nutrition
and Environment Study
HouseholdQuestionnaire
Food Sampling for a Suite of
Contaminants
Water Sampling for -Trace Metals-Pharmaceuticals in Environment
Hair sampling for Mercury
Rio Declaration, 1992
“Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature”
World Summit on Environment and Development