Title
Correlation of Inhalable Dust Particles and Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation in the First Nations Resident Population
Fiscal Year
2010-2011
Community/Region
Kamloops Indian Band Reserve # 1 and Whispering Pines Reserve (Kamloops), British Columbia
Principal Investigator
Mark Diffin and Kingsley Donker
Community Project Lead
Mark Diffin
Project Members
Megan Campbell
Project Summary
The Kamloops Indian Band (K.I.B.) reserve is situated in two river valleys where substantial amounts of dust accumulate. This study was undertaken to determine whether there was a correlation between the concentrations of heavy metals contained in airborne dust, soil and hair samples from two reserves (K.I.B. reserve and Whispering Pines Indian reserve).
Community members who volunteered for the study were asked to complete a questionnaire to determine their age, whether they ate fish, what fish they ate, how it was preserved, if not eaten fresh, and whether their hair was dyed. Two control subjects not living on reserve also answered the questionnaire. Hair samples were then taken from each volunteer. Dust samples and surface/below surface soil samples were collected as well. All samples were analysed for heavy metals, such as cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel, zinc, aluminium, and barium.
Based on the chemical analysis of dust, soil and hair, a relationship was demonstrated between heavy metal concentrations in the hair of participants and those contained in ambient air. The levels of heavy metals in hair samples from those living on reserve in K.I.B. were generally higher than those from Whispering Pines and higher than the control samples from two volunteers living in the city of Kamloops. Dyed hair contained higher concentrations than un-dyed hair. A high proportion of participants with elevated levels of heavy metals in hair reported that they typically ate traditionally prepared fish, including dried and smoked fish. However, there was insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about whether the method of fish preparation contributed to the elevated levels observed. Collecting a larger number of hair samples would provide a more robust dataset for more detailed analysis. Although not the focus of this study, other food sources of heavy metals may include wild game and gathered foods. Since higher levels of heavy metals were detected in samples along high traffic areas and around industrial parks, the investigators suggested that improved regulation and enforcement of environmental standards could help reduce the amount of contaminants in the environment.