Concerns over increases in the
level of cancers, reproductive problems, and thyroid disease on St. Lawrence
Island prompted the Yupik communities of Gambell and Savoonga to engage in
research to better understand sources of environmental contaminants that may be
linked to health disparities on the island. Since 2000, a number of
community-based participatory research (CBPR) exposure-assessment projects have
been conducted at the request of communities. A National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) funded community-based participatory
research project on the Island is working to document levels of PCBs, flame
retardant chemicals, perfluorinated compounds, and chlorinated pesticides
through sampling of freshwater fish, household dust and blood serum of
residents.
The aim of this exposure
assessment is to provide information, ownership of data, and training for the
people of SLI so that they can plan and participate in public health actions to
reduce environmental health risks. Finally, the research team collaborates with
the leadership, elders, and youth of SLI to develop measures to prevent and
mitigate environmental exposures through community educational programs and
public policy actions, including community-based research institutes for
college credit, health fairs for all community members, and workshops for
health care providers.
This TSFWG webinar was presented in
March, 2018 by … Dr. Loren Buck, Professor, Department
of Biological Sciences, NAU; Dr. Frank von Hippel, Professor,
Department of Biological Sciences, NAU; Pamela Miller, Executive
Director, Alaska Community Action on Toxics; Vi Waghiyi, Environmental Health
& Justice Program Director, Alaska Community Action on Toxics
Institute for Tribal
Environmental Professionals, Professionals@nau.edu
