Environmental contaminants in Arctic human populations: Trends over 30 years

Saranya Palaniswamy; Laura Nevala; Paula Pesonen; Arja Rautio; Marjo-Riitta Järvelin; Khaled Abass; Dolley Charles

Environment International (Jul 2024)

Environmental contaminants in Arctic human populations: Trends over 30 years

Saranya Palaniswamy,
Laura Nevala,
Paula Pesonen,
Arja Rautio,
Marjo-Riitta Järvelin,
Khaled Abass,
Dolley Charles

Affiliations

Saranya Palaniswamy: Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Corresponding author at: Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Laura Nevala: Department of Community Medicine, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
Paula Pesonen: Northern Finland Birth Cohort, Infrastructure for Population Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Arja Rautio: Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Thule Institute, University of Arctic, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Marjo-Riitta Järvelin: Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Unit of Primary Care, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London, United Kingdom
Khaled Abass: Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Research Institute of Science and Engineering, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Corresponding author at: Environmental Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Dolley Charles: Department of Community Medicine, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 189
p. 108777

Abstract

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Introduction: Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) monitors persistent organic pollutant (POP) levels in the Arctic populations and assesses health effects related to exposure to them. Many internationally regulated POPs persist in humans and biota, while new Emerging Contaminants of Arctic Concern (ECAC), many of which are unregulated, present additional challenges. Biomonitoring offers valuable insights into temporal trends within human matrices, revealing critical information not only about the efficacy of international regulations but also serving as an early warning system for exposure and risks for human health. Methods: Data analyzed in this study is aggregated data presented in the AMAP Human Health in the Arctic assessments, which provide data on contaminant concentrations measured in human matrices from adults, and children across various population studies conducted in the Arctic since the 1980 s. Linear regression analyses were used to assess trends of various POPs including organochlorine (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), measured over time from the Arctic populations in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Canada and Alaska (USA). Results: Overall, decreasing trends were observed for PCBs and OCPs. Regulated PFAS showed decreasing trends, but increasing trends were observed for unregulated PFAS in certain populations. PBDEs showed decreasing or inconsistent trends in certain Arctic populations. Conclusions: Decreasing trends are observed for legacy POPs, but the trends for new emerging contaminants are inconsistent. More focus is needed on biomonitoring the new emerging contaminants of concern in the Arctic and their implications on human health.

Published in Environment International

ISSN: 0160-4120 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international

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