Development of a Traditional Environmental Monitoring (Phase 2)

In 1996, following the accidental release of PCBs, dioxins, and furans from the Swan Hills Waste Treatment Centre into the surrounding air of Swan Hills, Alberta, a wild game consumption advisory was issued within a 30 km radius of the treatment centre. Several First Nations communities in the area were concerned the advisory was not applicable to their members, due to low representation of First Nations People in the Alberta Health study, which served as the basis for the advisory. In addition, First Nations community members consumed greater amounts of wild game than what was reported in the study. The Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council, in partnership with Health Canada, initiated the Lesser Slave Lake Health Study (LSLHS) to investigate the traditional food consumption patterns and blood contaminant levels of First Nations community members. The results of the study would be used to re-examine the applicability of the 1996 Alberta Health consumption advisory.

The study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 of the study examined the levels of contaminants (PCBs, dioxins and furans, DDT/DDE, mercury, lead and cadmium) and food consumption patterns of high consumers of traditional food (fish, wild game and cultivated and wild fruits and vegetables) in Sucker Creek, Driftpile and Swan River. Phase 2 of the study was a random survey, examining contaminant levels, health issues, and traditional food consumption patterns in 142 First Nations people from Driftpile, Kapawe’no, Sucker Creek, and Swan River. The team collected blood and hair samples and analyzed them for mercury, PCBs, DDE, cadmium, and lead.

The results of this study showed levels of contaminants in Phase 2 were lower than the levels observed in Phase 1. These levels were generally within the current guidelines established by Health Canada and were similar to those of the general population of Eastern Canada, with the exception of cadmium. The only individuals with cadmium levels exceeding the occupational guideline were current smokers. PCB levels were higher among the participants of this study than were reported in the Alberta Health Survey and the lipid-soluble contaminants (PCBs, dioxins/furans, DDE) increased with age.

Based on these results, Health Canada concluded the original advisory issued by Alberta Health in 1996 should be maintained, especially given the higher levels of wild game consumption among First Nations. The study team encouraged community members in the Lesser Slave Lake area to continue consuming wild game harvested outside the 30 km radius of the Swan Hills Waste Treatment Centre.