Contaminant Biomonitoring in the Northwest Territories Mackenzie Valley: Investigating the Links Between Contaminant Exposure, Nutritional Status, and Country Food Use

A contaminant biomonitoring study was completed in the Dehcho and Sahtu Regions of the Northwest Territories in order to investigate the levels of nutrient biomakers and contaminant exposure among participating First Nations communities. We implemented human hair, urine, and blood sampling for contaminant biomonitoring in nine communities between January 2016 and March 2018. In each community, participants were invited to complete up to three questionnaires that evaluated food consumption patterns and preferences in terms the communication of contaminant information. This research will be used to i) analyze the levels and driving factors of contaminant exposure among project participants; and ii) evaluate the impact of public health messages on people's awareness of contaminant issues.This work has used a risk-benefit approach to promote the use of country foods in order to improve nutrition and food security while lessening contaminant exposure among First Nations communities in the Northwest Territories. Altogether, this work will inform the development of regional-specific communication tools that promote the consumption of country foods in order to lower risk factors for chronic disease while limiting contaminant exposure among First Nations communities in the Dehcho and Sahtu Regions.本研究在加拿大西北地区的德乔（Dehcho）与萨图（Sahtu）地区开展污染物生物监测研究，旨在探究参与研究的第一民族社区人群的营养生物标志物水平与污染物暴露状况。2016年1月至2018年3月期间，本研究在9个社区完成了针对污染物生物监测的人体毛发、尿液及血液采样工作。各社区均邀请参与者填写至多三份问卷，以评估其食物消费模式与偏好，并考察污染物信息的传播相关情况。本研究将实现两大研究目标：①分析研究参与者的污染物暴露水平及其驱动因素；②评估公共卫生宣传信息对公众污染物问题认知水平的影响。本研究采用风险-收益评估策略，推广本土传统食物（country foods）的食用，以期在降低加拿大西北地区第一民族社区人群污染物暴露水平的同时，改善其营养状况与粮食安全保障水平。综上，本研究将为制定德乔与萨图地区专属传播工具提供数据支撑，此类工具旨在推广本土传统食物的食用，以降低慢性病的风险因素，同时减少该区域第一民族社区人群的污染物暴露水平。