Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Research & Action Plan for Human Health Risk Reduction in the Arctic  (Human Health Risk Reduction in the Arctic)

Outline
Although the latitude-dependent increase of POP levels in the Arctic regions are confirmed by many international studies, the ecotoxicological consequences still remain largely unknown. The high levels of contaminants in the Arctic have already caused serious concern of the health conditions of indigenous populations. Human reproduction appears to be especially vulnerable to high levels of certain contaminants such as PCBs. Indigenous arctic women experiencing the relatively low PCB exposure (as measured in serum over 2.0 µg/L) are reported to be at increased risk of adverse outcomes of pregnancy (AMAP, 2004). Taking into consideration that the WHO recommended level of concern for PCB blood contamination is of 20 µg/L, one may suggest that this phenomenon is resulted from either increased susceptibility of indigenous people to PCBs or from combined effect of contaminants and specific arctic environmental stressors or both. The harsh arctic climate, in par! ticular cold, are capable of modifying the health effect induced by some inorganic toxicants, vibration and physical strain. In the meantime, next to nothing is known about the interaction between cold stress and human exposures of persistent contaminants. Currently there is a common understanding that POPs must be reduced at source. Assertive and far-reaching implementation plans are required. The main objective is to elaborate a scientifically sound, economically feasible and ethically acceptable action plan to reduce health risks associated with combined exposures of persistent contaminants and environmental stressors including geophysical and climatic factors with the special emphasis to indigenous people. The project is intended to study the possibility of unusual toxicity due to interaction of a multitude of contaminants and environmental stressors at exposure levels that are generally considered harmless for individuals. A tool for better understanding the combined effects of environmental stressors and contaminants is the conduct of studies of genetic polymorphism and related proteomic profiles in arctic populations in order to describe individual susceptibility to adverse effects caused by contaminants. Identification of reliable and applicable biomarkers of exposure is also to be studied in order to estimate the validity of assumption of effect. Evaluation of the combined effect of environmental stressors and global contaminants in the Arctic requires additional information viz. experimental modeling, health statistics, epidemiological, nutritional and socio-economic data. Evaluation of anticipated health effects associated with the combined exposure requires information from different types of study including - modeling of effect at molecular and cellular levels; - assessment of genetic susceptibility; - identification of relevant and validated biomarkers of exposure and effects; - identification of areas of increased risk; - lifestyle characterization; - health status evaluation; - description of socio-economic conditions - assessment of exposure to environmental contaminants.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The project implementation will allow: Better understanding the epidemiologic parameters of health conditions associated with combined effects of arctic environmental stressors and POPs. Identification of individual genetic, proteomic, and behavioral data important to the onset, development, clinical manifestations and outcomes of health effects caused by combined exposure to these factors. Determination whether and how individual PCB congeners affect the reproductive health of arctic populations. Development of recommendations on reduction of the human exposure to environmental contaminants. Evaluation, support, and implementation of new prevention strategies and management protocols for populations at increased risk of health effects caused by combined exposure to POPs in the Arctic. Development of a responsive system for transferring environmental health information network for researchers and the public through both international and regional health information centers.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The project is a continuation of an already existing collaboration among arctic countries concerning the evaluation of environmental risk factors in the region. To date the Arctic Council has approved a number of ongoing and proposed projects addressed the human health. The most recent is “Arctic Human Health Initiative”, which is expected to be resulted in implementation of preventive strategies and approaches based on consistent models that would allow a action plan for health improvement. This particular project is to supplement the above mentioned Arctic Council activities with assessment of the health-environment interaction making the emphasis on combined effects of global contaminants and environmental stressors specific to the Arctic.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Kola Peninsula, Russia, Amderma, Nenets district, Russia Dudinka, Taimyr Peninsula, Russia Salekhard, Yamal Peninsula, Russia, Lavrentia, Chukotka Peninsula, Russia

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 02/07 - 04/07      09/07 - 11/07      02/08 - 09/08
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
High sensitivity analytical instrumentation to measure individual contaminants in humans and in the environment; Instrumentation to assess combined effects at cellular, metabolic, organ and systemiv levels.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Project will leave an infrastructure of existing national and institutional networks that will link researchers throughout the arctic region, as well as socio-environmental and health monitoring services that will allow the reduction of health risks associated with global persistent contaminants in the Arctic. Proposed activities are intended to facilitate a legacy of indigenous people participation in Arctic health studies and their planning, implementation and evaluation of results.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Own national polar operator
National agency
Own support

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project has been conceptually approved by the Human Health Expert Group of Northwest Council for Medical Research.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Yes

How will the project be organised and managed?
These specific activities will be organized in the form of: - a follow-up study involving those 316 mother-child pairs and 1540 adult indigenous people surveyed during the 2001-2002 Russian Arctic PTS study; - a cross-sectional epidemiologic studies involving indigenous and non-indigenous sub-populations with comparable levels of POP exposures living in different geographical areas of the Arctic; - statistical analysis of data available from annual environmental and public health reports provided by local hospitals, as well as reports by hygienic and socio-demographic monitoring services from arctic regions and districts; - information dissemination, experience transfer and professional training to facilitate the development and implementation of both national and local action plans for improvement of the environment and health care systems.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The project will be funded through both the federal and arctic local finacial sources. The total budget is expected to be of $350,000

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Boris Morgonov
Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Russian Federation
34, Novyi Arbat, Moscow

Russia

Tel: +7 495 209 8525
Mobile: no
Fax: +7 495 200 5900
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation