Title

An examination of the probabilistic human health risk of contaminant exposure from a traditional subsistence diet in the Indigenous communities of Eeyou Istchee (northern Québec, Canada)

Fiscal Year

2015-2016

Community/Region

Cree Trappers’ Association (Eeyou Istchee communities: Whapmagoostui, Chisasibi, Wemindji, Eastmain, Waskaganish, Nemaska, Waswanipi, Ouje-Bougamou, and Mistissini First Nations), Quebec

Principal Investigator

Drs. Eric Liberda and Leonard Tsuji

Community Project Lead

Willie Gunner, president, Cree Trappers’ Association

Project Members

Alan House

Project Summary

The consumption of traditional foods is central to the health and wellbeing of the nine Eeyou Istchee communities of eastern James and Hudson Bay, Quebec. Members of these communities were concerned traditional food was a potential route of exposure to environmental contaminants from chemical use, industrial activity, and resource development in Indigenous territories. The purpose of this project was to examine potential human exposure to metals and organohalogens from the consumption of traditional foods and determine risks for the Eeyouch Isthee communities . The goal was to provide risk information to the Cree Peoples in this territory to enable them to make informed decisions about their health.

The project team collected samples from traditional wild game and fish (bear, beaver, caribou, moose, hare, duck, goose, grouse, walleye) to measure levels of twenty-four metals (including arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury). They also measured levels of various organohalogen contaminants (i.e., PCB congeners, DDD, DDT, DDE, α-HCH, β-HCH, PBDE, cis-nonachlor, mirex, oxychlordane, hexachlorocyclohexane, toxaphene, and trans-nonachlor). The traditional food consumption rates among the Eeyouch Istchee were derived from a previous project conducted in the region. Monte Carlo simulations were carried out to calculate the probabilistic non-carcinogenic hazard quotient and carcinogenic risk values to estimate the human health risk of exposure to these contaminants.

The results showed the overall risks from exposure to metals and organohalogens in traditional foods was low. The consumption of duck or goose may be of concern as there was a slightly increased risk of exposure to PBB-153, a type of organohalogen. The project team concluded since the consumption of waterfowl may increase exposure to organohalogens, residents should exercise caution until further studies are undertaken. The project team recommended a follow-up species-specific study focused on ducks. They advised residents to balance the slight risks with the substantial benefits to health from consuming traditional foods.