Oral Presentation Abstracts Annual Scientific Meeting ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᕐᓯᐅᑎᒥᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᒃ
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Oral Presentation Abstracts Annual Scientific Meeting ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᕐᓯᐅᑎᒥᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᒃ 2015 Réunion scientifique annuelle 7-11/12/2015, Vancouver, BC ASM2015 Conference Program Oral Presentation Abstracts ORAL PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AS income, education level, region of residence and exposure DETERMINANTS OF LEVELS OF EXPOSURE to country food consumption advices (independent TO MERCURY (HG) AND POLYCHLORINATED variables) were collected through questionnaire. BIPHENYLS (PCB) AMONG INUIT PREGNANT Associations between Hg and PCB blood levels and each WOMEN FROM NUNAVIK, CANADA of the selected independent variables were analyzed in separate regression models adjusted for age. Results: Adamou, Therese (1,2)([email protected]), Hg and PCB concentrations were significantly lower M. Riva (1,3), S. Déry (4), E.A. Laouan-Sidi (1), R. Dallaire among women with a higher education level. Significant (1) and P. Ayotte (1,3,5) regional disparities in exposure to Hg and PCB were also (1) Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier observed. Blood level concentrations of Hg and PCB did Universitaire de Québec, Axe Santé des population et not vary by personal income or exposure to country food pratiques optimales en santé,Québec,Québec. consumption advices. Conclusion: Social disparities in (2) Faculté des sciences infirmères,Université Laval, exposure to Hg and PCB exist among pregnant women Québec, Québec, G1V 0A6 from Nunavik. Level of education and region of residence (3) Département de medecine sociale et préventive, are associated with elevated levels of exposure to Hg Université Laval, Québec, Québec,G1V 0A6 and PCB. This information is important to ensure the (4) Regie Régionale de Santé et des Services Sociaux du development of public health interventions that promote Nunavik, Kuujjuaq, Québec, Québec,J0M 1C0 health equity and for identifying subgroups of the (5) Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, population who might be especially vulnerable. This study Québec, Québec,G1V 5B3 contributes to advancing knowledge on environmental inequalities in the Canadian Arctic. Introduction: Country food is a fundamental part of Inuit culture and a key resource for health and subsistence. However, it is also a pathway of exposure to THE WAY FORWARD: CANADIAN environmental pollutants. These include mercury (Hg) COAST GUARD’S NORTHERN MARINE and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) which are mainly TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS INITIATIVE found in fish and marine mammals. Generally, country food does not represent a significant risk for health for Alvaro, Tanya ([email protected]) the general population, but particular attention is paid Canadian Coast Guard, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0E6 to pregnant women. Prenatal exposure to Hg and PCB through diet is shown to be associated with adverse Due to melting sea ice, the Arctic is opening up and effects on children’s neurodevelopment. In Nunavik, lending way to increased prosperity attracting economic public health authorities have monitored maternal and touristic activities in the region. However, the north exposure to Hg and PCB since 1992. Biomonitoring is vast and operationally-demanding. Given its geography, data suggest that maternal blood levels of Hg and PCB and limited infrastructure, marine transportation is have significantly declined from 1992 to 2013. However, a critical mode of transportation. Consequently, the no studies have examined whether exposure to Hg and presence of chokepoints and challenging weather can PCB was uniformly distributed among pregnant women impede navigation and potentially increase navigational from Nunavik or whether social disparities in exposure risks and constrain economic development. While the exist. Objective: Examine whether Hg and PCB blood current marine transportation system meets current levels among pregnant women from Nunavik vary by (1) demand, trends are suggesting that this situation is personal income; (2) education; (3) region of residence; likely to change in the decades to come. A recent (4) exposure to regional public health recommendations announcement identified $22.7 million over five years to on consumption of country food during pregnancy. strengthen marine safety and navigation in the Arctic. The Methods: Between 2011 and 2013, blood concentrations investments will be directed to laying the groundwork for for Hg and PCB (dependent variables) were measured the development of a modern marine navigation system, among 208 pregnant women. Information on personal additional science research, community engagement 2 ASM2015 Conference Program Oral Presentation Abstracts and more. Moving forward, the Canadian Coast Guard and relationships that are associated with mental health- (CCG), the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) and often termed social determinants-may provide a window Transport Canada (TC) are working together on the for policy makers in addressing mental distress among Northern Marine Transportation Corridors Initiative Inuit. Using the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey, this to determine what the appropriate mix of navigational study examines the social determinants of higher mental services, infrastructure, and emergency response services distress among Inuit aged 18 years and over, living in Inuit could be across Canada’s Arctic waterways; and in a Nunangat. Mental distress was studied using the ten-item way, is a solution to improving navigation safety and Kessler distress scale (K10); and multivariate analysis was enabling Canada’s strategic advantage in the Arctic. As conducted using a logistic regression model. part of the initiative, CCG committed to undertake a general review of its levels of service and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the corridors with RED BLOOD CELL FOLATE LEVELS respect to its own services. In general the results show IN CANADIAN INUIT WOMEN OF the benefits of servicing and maintaining corridors will CHILDBEARING YEARS: INFLUENCE reduce significantly the area where marine traffic will OF FOOD SECURITY, BMI, SMOKING, transit. However, there are some exceptions, such as EDUCATION AND VITAMIN USE SAR and Environmental Response incidents that would need to be investigated further. For example, adventurers Kait, Duncan (1), A. C. Erickson (2), G. M. Egeland (3,4), transiting the Northwest Passage will need to be addressed H. Weiler (5) and L.T. Arbour (1,2,3) as they are increasingly requiring assistance. Exploratory (1) Department of Medicine, Island Medical Program, discussions on the concept, methodology and preliminary University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British results have been held. These initial consultations with Columbia, Canada key stakeholders, including the marine industry, have (2) Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, resulted in positive feedback. Moving forward, CCG, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada CHS and TC, will engage a broader group of stakeholders (3) Department of Global Public Health and Primary including academics. The Northern Marine Transportation Care, Bergen, Norway Corridors initiative is supported through science research, (4) Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of environmental information and data. However, we still Public Health, Bergen, Norway require additional information and data in these areas. (5) School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill The purpose of the presentation is to provide an update University Macdonald Campus, Ste Anne de Bellevue, QC on the initiative and have a candid conversation on where (6) Department of Medical Genetics, University of British gaps are present and how we can work together to address Columbia, IMP campus, Victoria, British Columbia, those gaps through research, data and workshops. The Canada presentation builds on previous engagements and seeks to build literacy and consensus around next steps for Background: Folate is a key factor in DNA Northern Marine Transportation Corridors as a strategic biosynthesis and cell division. The knowledge that approach to the Arctic. folate has an important role in reducing birth defects and improving other birth outcomes has evolved and strengthened over the last 30 years. Because of the THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HIGHER known benefit of adequate blood levels of folic acid in MENTAL DISTRESS AMONG INUIT reducing the occurrence of neural tube defects, Canada introduced mandatory folic acid fortification of cereal Anderson, Thomas ([email protected]) and grain products in November 1998. It was with the Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division, Statistics Canada, expectation that for women of childbearing years, folic Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6 acid fortification, in combination with a diet adequate in folate and a daily multivitamin containing 400 micrograms Within the last decade, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami of folic acid, that target red blood cell folate (RBCF) has identified mental wellness as the single most levels of ~906 nmol/L to reduce birth defects would important health issue for Inuit (Alianait Inuit-specific be reached. For the Inuit of Canada, where vitamin use Mental Wellness Task Group, 2007). Understanding the has been documented to be low and access to folate rich complex arrangements of circumstances, behaviours foods limited, folic acid fortification may be a major 3 ASM2015 Conference Program Oral Presentation Abstracts source of intake. This study aimed to determine if the were installed to increase the air temperature. Unlike most RBCF levels of Inuit women reached accepted target