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(FNFNES): Results from Webequie First Nation, Ontario

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(FNFNES): Results from Webequie First Nation, Ontario First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study (FNFNES): Results from Webequie First Nation, Ontario University of Northern British Columbia Université de Montréal Assembly of First Nations Draft October 25, 2013 “Healthy Environment and Healthy Foods for Healthy First Nations” Funding for this study was provided by Health Canada. The information and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors/researchers and do not necessarily reflect the official views of Health Canada. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................... i LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................... v GLOSSARY .............................................................................................................. vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................. 1 SUMMARY OF RESULTS FOR .................................................................................. 5 WEBEQUIE FIRST NATION ....................................................................................... 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................... 9 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 10 METHODS ................................................................................................................ 14 1. Household Interviews .......................................................................................... 18 2. Tap Water Sampling ............................................................................................ 22 3. Surface Water Sampling for Pharmaceuticals ..................................................... 24 4. Mercury in Hair Sampling .................................................................................... 25 5. Food Sampling for Contaminants ........................................................................ 26 RESULTS .................................................................................................................. 28 1. Household Interviews ............................................................................................ 28 a) Sample Characteristics ...................................................................................... 28 b) Socio-Demographic Characteristics ................................................................... 32 c) Health and Lifestyle Practices ............................................................................ 39 d) Food Security ..................................................................................................... 47 d) Traditional Food Use and Gardening ................................................................. 54 f) Nutrient Intake ..................................................................................................... 74 g) Environmental Concerns .................................................................................... 91 2. Tap Water Sampling Results ................................................................................. 93 3. Surface Water Sampling for Pharmaceuticals ..................................................... 105 4. Mercury in Hair Results ....................................................................................... 107 5. Food Contaminant Results .................................................................................. 113 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................ 126 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 131 i Appendix A: Summary of contaminant information ................................................. 135 Appendix B. Body Mass Index (BMI) ....................................................................... 139 Appendix C. Types of fruits and vegetables consumed from personal or community gardens ................................................................................................................... 141 Appendix D: Conversion of Grams to Usual Household Measures ......................... 143 Appendix E. Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide First Nations, Inuit and Métis 144 Appendix F: List of nutritional supplements taken by Ontario First Nations participants ................................................................................................................................ 147 Appendix G. Healthy Food Guidelines for First Nation Community Events ............. 150 ii LIST OF TABLES Table 1. List of participating First Nations communities in Ontario and number of participants 30 Table 2. Number of households surveyed and participation rate in Webequie First Nation compared to First Nations in Ontario 31 Table 3. Average age of participants 35 Table 4. Household size and education, Webequie First Nation compared to all First Nations in Ontario 37 Table 5. Percent of participants who responded affirmatively to food security questions (in the last 12 months) in Webequie First Nation 51 Table 6. Percent of on-reserve Ontario First Nations consuming traditional food In the past year, Webequie First Nation compared to all First Nations in Ontario 59 Table 7. Seasonal frequency of top ten consumed traditional food items for consumers and non-consumers combined, based on average days per year, Webequie First Nation 62 Table 8. Average portion size of traditional food categories, by gender and age group, as reported from 24hr recalls, all First Nations in Ontario 63 Table 9. Estimated average intake of major traditional foods (g/person/day), using traditional food frequency results, Webequie First Nation compared to all First Nations in Ontario 64 Table 10. Average number of Food Guide Servings per day for First Nations in Ontario (n=1433) compared to Canada’s Food Guide recommendations 84 Table 11. Top 5 contributors to Canada’s Food Guide (% of total group intake), for First Nations women and men, living on-reserve in Ontario 85 Table 12. Ten most important contributors to nutrients for First Nations living on-reserve in Ontario 86 Table 13. Comparison of nutrient intake on days with and without traditional food (TF), controlling for day of week, for First Nations living on-reserve in Ontario 89 Table 14. Top 10 consumed store-bought food (g/person/day), ranked by overall decreasing amount of consumption, Webequie First Nation compared to total First Nations participants in Ontario 90 Table 15. Characteristics of homes and plumbing, First Nations living on-reserve in Ontario 101 Table 16. Results of testing for levels of trace metals in drinking water that would affect health 102 iii LIST OF TABLES, continued Table 17. Results of testing for levels of trace metals in drinking water that would affect its appearance, taste, odour, or colour 103 Table 18. Public Works Questionnaire Results 104 Table 19. Pharmaceuticals measured in surface water near Webequie First Nation 107 Table 20. Average total mercury concentrations (converted to blood equivalents in parts per billion) for all Webequie First Nation participants and for women of childbearing age compared to Health Canada’s proposed blood guidance values 110 Table 21. Mercury levels in Webequie First Nation from past studies compared to current study 112 Table 22. Average mercury levels in blood for the general Canadian population by age group 112 Table 23. Levels of toxic trace metals in traditional food samples from Webequie First Nation (μg/g fresh weight) 119 Table 24. Top 10 contributors to contaminant intake, Webequie First Nation 120 Table 25. Level of PAHs in traditional food samples collected from Webequie First Nation 121 Table 26. Level of organochlorines in traditional food samples collected from Webequie First Nation 122 Table 27. Levels of PBDE in traditional food samples collected from Webequie First Nation 123 Table 28. Levels of Perfluorocarbons in traditional food samples collected from Webequie First Nation 123 Table 29. Levels of Dioxins and Furans in traditional food samples collected from Webequie First Nation 123 Table 30. Exposure estimates (µg/kg body weight/day) for metals from traditional food using average concentrations (Webequie First Nation) 124 Table 31. Exposure estimates (µg/kg body weight/day) for mercury from traditional food (using average concentrations) among Webequie First Nation women of child bearing age 124 Table 32. Exposure estimates (µg/kg body weight/day) for organics from traditional food using average concentrations, Webequie First Nation 125 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure A. Map of participating Ontario First Nations communities and ecozones 16 Figure B. The five study components of the FNFNES 13 Figure 1a. Age group distribution of female participants 35 Figure 1b. Age group distribution of male participants 35 Figure 2. Percent of household members by age group, Webequie First Nation compared to all First Nations in Ontario 36 Figure 3. Diplomas, certificates and degrees obtained, Webequie First Nation compared to all First Nations in Ontario 37 Figure 4. Percent of households with at least one person working, Webequie First Nation compared to all First Nations in Ontario 38 Figure
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