Health Risk Modifiers of Exposure to Persistent Pollutants among Indigenous Peoples of Chukotka

Valery Chashchin, Aleksandr A. Kovshov, Yngvar Thomassen, Tatiana Sorokina, Sergey A. Gorbanev, Boris Morgunov, Andrey B. Gudkov, Maksim Chashchin, Natalia V. Sturlis, Anna Trofimova, Jon Ø. Odland and Evert Nieboer
Additional contact information
Valery Chashchin: Arctic Biomonitoring Laboratory, Northern (Arctic) Federal University, 163002 Arkhangelsk, Russia
Aleksandr A. Kovshov: Northwest Public Health Research Center, 191031 St. Petersburg, Russia
Yngvar Thomassen: Arctic Biomonitoring Laboratory, Northern (Arctic) Federal University, 163002 Arkhangelsk, Russia
Tatiana Sorokina: Arctic Biomonitoring Laboratory, Northern (Arctic) Federal University, 163002 Arkhangelsk, Russia
Sergey A. Gorbanev: Northwest Public Health Research Center, 191031 St. Petersburg, Russia
Boris Morgunov: National Research University Higher School of Economics, 101000 Moscow, Russia
Andrey B. Gudkov: Arctic Biomonitoring Laboratory, Northern (Arctic) Federal University, 163002 Arkhangelsk, Russia
Maksim Chashchin: Laboratory of Arctic Medicine, Mechnikov Northwestern State Medical University, 191015 St. Petersburg, Russia
Natalia V. Sturlis: Arctic Biomonitoring Laboratory, Northern (Arctic) Federal University, 163002 Arkhangelsk, Russia
Anna Trofimova: Arctic Biomonitoring Laboratory, Northern (Arctic) Federal University, 163002 Arkhangelsk, Russia
Jon Ø. Odland: National Research University Higher School of Economics, 101000 Moscow, Russia
Evert Nieboer: Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: The aim of the study was to assess temporal trends in health risks related to most common persistent contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethanes (DDTs), lead (Pb), as well as mercury (Hg) among indigenous peoples living in coastal areas of Chukotka in Arctic Russia. This is examined in relation to exposure pathways and a range of social and behavioral factors capable of modifying the exposure to these contaminants, including place of residence, income, traditional subsistence, alcohol consumption, and awareness of risk prevention. The primary exposure pathway for PCBs is shown to be the intake of traditional foods, which explained as much as 90% of the total health risk calculated employing established risk guidelines. Nearly 50% of past DDT-related health risks also appear to have been contributed by contaminated indoor surfaces involving commonly used DDT-containing insecticides. Individuals who practiced traditional activities are shown to have experienced a 4.4-fold higher risk of exposure to PCBs and a 1.3-fold higher risk for DDTs, Pb, and Hg. Low income, high consumption of marine mammal fat, alcohol consumption, and lack of awareness of health risk prevention are attributed to a further 2- to 6-fold increase in the risk of PCBs exposure. Low socioeconomic status enhances the health risks associated with exposure to the persistent contaminants examined.

Keywords: persistent contaminants; Chukotka; indigenous peoples; health risk assessment; risk modifying factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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