Northern Saskatchewan Prenatal Biomonitoring Study Technical Summary Report Ministry of Health, Government of Saskatchewan, 2019 Northern Saskatchewan Prenatal Biomonitoring Study Summary Report Ministry of Health, Government of Saskatchewan, 2019 For more information contact: Environmental Health Population Health Branch Miinistry of Health 3475 Albert Street, Regina, SK, Canada, S4S 6X6 Telephone: 306-787-8847 Website: https://publications.saskatchewan.ca:443/api/v1/products/101374/formats/112048/download TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Study Rationale ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Biomonitoring as the Tool of Choice ......................................................................................................................... 5 Stakeholder Analysis ................................................................................................................................................. 6 Alberta’s Biomonitoring Program ......................................................................................................................... 6 Engagement with Northern Communities ............................................................................................................ 6 Glossary ........................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Methodology ................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Scope ......................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Sample Selection ....................................................................................................................................................... 9 Recruitment and Consent ................................................................................................................................... 10 Chemical Selection .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Selection of Biomonitoring Matrix .......................................................................................................................... 13 Laboratory Analysis ................................................................................................................................................. 13 Statistical Analysis ................................................................................................................................................... 14 Analysis and Limitations...................................................................................................................................... 14 Weighting of Concentrations .............................................................................................................................. 14 Ethical Considerations ............................................................................................................................................. 15 Results… ........................................................................................................................................................................ 16 Preamble ................................................................................................................................................................. 16 Pooled Samples ....................................................................................................................................................... 17 Comparisons to Other Studies ................................................................................................................................ 18 Serum Chemical Levels in Northern Saskatchewan ................................................................................................ 18 Results by Chemical Class ........................................................................................................................................ 19 Organic Chemicals ............................................................................................................................................... 19 Cotinine............................................................................................................................................................ 19 Phytoestrogens ................................................................................................................................................ 20 Dioxins and Furans ........................................................................................................................................... 21 Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) .................................................................................................................... 23 Organochlorine Pesticides ............................................................................................................................... 25 DDT and Related Compounds .......................................................................................................................... 26 Hexachlorobenzene ......................................................................................................................................... 28 Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers ..................................................................................................................... 30 Perfluorochemicals .......................................................................................................................................... 31 Bisphenol-A ...................................................................................................................................................... 34 Octylphenol ..................................................................................................................................................... 35 Methylmercury ................................................................................................................................................ 36 Phthalates ........................................................................................................................................................ 38 Parabens .......................................................................................................................................................... 39 Trace Metals and Minerals ................................................................................................................................. 41 Trace Metals (Non-Micronutrients) .................................................................................................................... 41 Aluminum (Al) .................................................................................................................................................. 41 Antimony (Sb) .................................................................................................................................................. 42 Arsenic (As) ...................................................................................................................................................... 43 Barium (Ba) ...................................................................................................................................................... 45 Cadmium (Cd) .................................................................................................................................................. 46 Cesium (Cs) ...................................................................................................................................................... 47 Chromium (Cr) ................................................................................................................................................. 48 Lead (Pb) .......................................................................................................................................................... 49 Mercury (Hg) .................................................................................................................................................... 51 Strontium (SR) .................................................................................................................................................. 53 Uranium (U) ..................................................................................................................................................... 54 Mineral Micronutrients ....................................................................................................................................... 55 Boron (B) .......................................................................................................................................................... 55 Cobalt