ARCTIC CHANGE 2014 8-12 December - Shaw Centre - Ottawa, Canada
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ARCTIC CHANGE 2014 8-12 December - Shaw Centre - Ottawa, Canada Oral Presentation Abstracts Arctic Change 2014 Oral Presentation Abstracts ORAL PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS TEMPORAL TREND ASSESSMENT OF CIRCULATING conducted when possible. Results: Maternal levels of Hg and MERCURY AND PCB 153 CONCENTRATIONS AMONG PCB 153 significantly decreased between 1992 and 2013. NUNAVIMMIUT PREGNANT WOMEN (1992-2013) Overall, concentrations of Hg and PCB 153 among pregnant women decreased respectively by 57% and 77% over the last Adamou, Therese Yero (12) ([email protected]), M. Riva (12), E. Dewailly (12), S. Dery (3), G. Muckle (12), R. two decades. In 2013, concentrations of Hg and PCB 153 were Dallaire (12), EA. Laouan Sidi (1) and P. Ayotte (1,2,4) respectively 5.2 µg/L and 40.36 µg/kg plasma lipids (geometric means). Discussion: Our results suggest a significant decrease (1) Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, of Hg and PCB 153 maternal levels from 1992 to 2013. Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Geometric mean concentrations of Hg and PCB 153 measured Québec, Québec,Québec, G1V 2M2 in 2013 were below Health Canada guidelines. The decline (2) Université Laval, Québec, Québec, G1V 0A6 observed could be related to measures implemented at regional, (3) Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, Québec national and international levels to reduce environmental (4) Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), pollution by mercury and PCB and/or a significant decrease Québec, G1V 5B3 of seafood consumption by pregnant women. These results have to be interpreted with caution. Indeed, Hg and PCB 153 Background: The consumption of traditional country concentrations measured in samples might not be representative food by Inuit people is nowadays recognized as beneficial from a of population levels. In addition, due to missing information, nutritional, economical, and cultural viewpoint. Unfortunately, adjustments for season (hunting season or not), trimester of it also represents the main pathway of exposure to a wide range pregnancy, parity and breastfeeding were not applied. of environmental contaminants. These include several metals, such as mercury (Hg) and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Previous studies TEST OF FIBER OPTICS LINEARLY DISTRIBUTED revealed that prenatal methylmercury and PCBs exposure could TEMPERATURE SENSING FOR PERMAFROST potentially affect fetal growth and induce cognition impairments MONITORING IN SALLUIT, NUNAVIK in children. Pregnant women are therefore considered as a vulnerable subgroup. Over the last 20 years, given the Allard, Michel (1) ([email protected]), J. Roger (1), concern about the possible effects of these neurotoxicants on D. Sarrazin (1), M.-P. Lachance (1), É. Morin (1), G. Doré (1) foetus and child development, measures and programs were and A. Guimond (2) implemented to reduce exposure of pregnant Inuit women to (1) Centre d’études nordiques, Université Laval, Québec, these compounds and to monitor maternal contaminant blood Québec, G1V 0A6 levels. Objectives: (1) to assess temporal trend of mercury and (2) Ministère des transports du Québec, Rouyn-Noranda, PCBs blood levels on the basis of samples collected among Québec, J9X 3J5 pregnant Inuit women in Nunavik, over 20 years from 1992 and 2013; (2) provide an update of the current levels of exposure. Fiber optics distributed temperature sensing (DTS) is a Method: The database was created by integrating data collected new technology that opens the door on original approaches through 4 research projects conducted in Nunavik between to study permafrost temperature regime in a variety of 1992 and 2013. Close to 500 women were recruited in total. environmental settings and engineering situations. In DTS Sample sizes at each time points ranged from 11 to 112 women. systems, as pulses of light emitted by a laser travel in a fiber Temporal trend analyses for Hg and PCB 153 (the main PCB optics cable, a small fraction of the signal is reflected along its congener) were performed by using regression models after course back to the source with a slight frequency shift that is log-transformation of data. Blood concentrations of Hg and temperature dependant, thus allowing to measure temperature PCB 153 were defined as the dependent variables and the along the cable by measuring two-way travel time. A cable year of sampling as the independent variable. All models were can be laid in an infinite number of configurations over many adjusted for age of participants and the region of residence kilometers and across variable environmental settings. Readings (Hudson Bay or Ungava Bay). Since selenium and omega-3 are made from a single control unit. An occasion to try the fatty acids are frequently used as markers of traditional food new technology arose in 2012 as it was decided to rebuild the consumption, trend analyses for these compounds were also Salluit road to the community airport that had been seriously 2 Arctic Change 2014 Oral Presentation Abstracts impacted by permafrost degradation. The permafrost beneath demand, trends are suggesting that this situation is likely to the road consists of very ice-rich post-glacial marine silt that change in the decades to come. Canada’s southern waters puts the road at high risk of deterioration by permafrost thawing have been enjoying a relatively safe and efficient marine following any input of heat that may occur anywhere along transportation system commensurate with risks. The system its length, the most feared heat sources being snow insulation was built over the past many decades at high costs and at a on shoulders in winter and water seepage underneath the time where technological solutions were limited. However, structure in summer. About 900 m long of embankment were the Arctic is vast and still pales in terms of marine traffic when rebuilt: specially designed heat drains were buried under one compared to Canada’s southern waters. Despite relative low side of the road to cool the embankment under snow in winter. traffic compared to the South, the level of traffic is significant On the other side of the road, the geometry of ditches and for the region and requires attention given the harsh nature culvert was redesigned so as to reduce heat advection by water of the marine environment and minimal infrastructure infiltration in summer. In addition to thermistors strings at available. Developing and investing in Canada’s northern selected control and sampling sites, a total length of 3.4 km marine transportation is critical to ensure safe, secure, and of DTS cable were buried under the embankments slopes on accessible marine corridors that will foster and encourage both sides of the road. On one side, the cable is buried at two economic development and prosperity in the Arctic. Replicating depths (0.3 and 0.8 m) to detect heat carrying water seepage a transportation system similar to that found in southern in the ground whereas on the other side it is buried under the Canadian waterways is not feasible or desirable; as such, a heat drain to assess its efficiency in cooling back the permafrost strategic approach is required to focus marine transportation under the road. A section of the cable also measures ground activities along defined Corridors in the Arctic to ensure marine temperature 0.25 deep in the natural terrain several meters off services support economic development opportunities in the the roadside as a reference. The cable also runs in loops across north, assert Canadian sovereignty, and have a predictable the road under four culverts. The linear resolution of the system preparedness and response framework should emergencies arise. is 0.25 m and the temperature measurement precision is 0.1 Canada requires a solid marine navigational support system °C. The datalogging system was programmed to take readings (i.e. charts buoys, icebreakers, etc.) and appropriate emergency every 3 hours over a year. Results show the different timing of response capabilities (eg SAR, ER) that are based on a solid freeze back of the embankment under the roadside in relation risk analysis in the North. The concept of Northern marine with wet and dry sections of terrain on which the road is built. transportation corridors is a strategic long term approach to Differential insulation provided by unequal snow cover on the guide future federal investments in the Arctic. sides can be observed. At spring time, heat intake in the ground by water flowing through the culverts and the impact of some seepage under the road at a few points could be detected. The THE NUNAVUT COMMUNITY AQUATIC linearly measured temperature data allows detection of sensible MONITORING PROGRAM – TRAINING AND spots anywhere along its length and to accurately measure KNOWLEDGE SHARING FOR COMMUNITY-BASED temperatures variations both in time and space. FISHERY DEVELOPMENT Arnold, Sarah (1) ([email protected]), J. Kennedy (2) and A. NORTHERN MARINE TRANSPORTATION Flaherty (2) CORRIDORS (1) Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, Rankin Inlet, Nunavut X0C0G0 Alvaro Tanya (2) Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, Canadian Coast Guard, 200 Kent Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A Iqaluit, Nunavut X0A0H0 0E6 Communities across Nunavut continue to face challenges Due to melting sea ice, the Arctic is opening up and in regards to developing important economic opportunities and lending way to increased prosperity attracting economic and to being active participants in monitoring their environment. touristic activities in the region. However, the north is vast and The development of Nunavut’s commercial fishery resources operationally-demanding. Given its geography, and limited has consistently been identified as one of the priority areas infrastructure, marine transportation is a critical mode of of economic development. However, the lack of local and transportation. Consequently, the presence of chokepoints and regional resources and capacity has impeded the collection of challenging weather can impede navigation and potentially the necessary information to facilitate this development.