Association between Adverse Health Effects Reflected in Elevated Hospitalization Rates and Industrial Contaminants (Phase 1)

Members of the Tl’azt’en Nation faced higher rates of hospitalization than non-Indigenous residents of British Columbia. The uncertainty of residents about possible linkages between the by-products of industrial activity and the poor health experienced by Tl’azt’en community members had generated a clinically measurable collective anxiety. This had led to the gradual abandonment of traditional foods as a principal source of protein for the community and a shift to commercially processed foods. The objective of this project was to become aware of the health variables and linkages to environmental contaminants.

The preparatory stage for this multi-year study began with a review of hospitalization rates and an assessment of the most frequent causes for hospitalization among First Nations. The project team evaluated specific community “lifestyle” factors through questionnaires. The project team collected over 300 samples from animals (moose, deer, waterfowl, fur bearing animals, fish) and plants (particularly medicinal plants) during normal hunting, fishing and gathering practices. The contaminants of interest included herbicides, pesticides, creosote, heavy metals, and chlorophenols.

Final results can be found in the Public Summary for Phase 2 of this project, which can be found in FY 2001-2002.