Pages 263-268 in S. Chatwood, P. Orr and Tiina Ikaheimo, eds. Proceedings of the 14th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Yellowknife, Canada, July 11-16, 2009. Securing the IPY Legacy: from Research to Action. International Journal of Circumpolar Health 2010; 69 (Suppl 7).
The North-West Public Health Research Centre, St. Petersburg, Russia
The AMAP Secretariate, Oslo, Norway
The University of Tromso, Norway
Source
Pages 263-268 in S. Chatwood, P. Orr and Tiina Ikaheimo, eds. Proceedings of the 14th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Yellowknife, Canada, July 11-16, 2009. Securing the IPY Legacy: from Research to Action. International Journal of Circumpolar Health 2010; 69 (Suppl 7).
Objectives: The Russian Arctic persistent toxic substance (PTS) study has revealed that some of the highest levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and lead are in the blood of the Indigenous populations of coastal Chukotka. A follow-up study was undertaken during 2007.
Study design: Individual data on PTS levels of blood samples from 17 mothers and cord blood from their corresponding babies born in the Chukotka coastal area in 2001-2002 were compared with PTS levels in blood sampled from the same women and their five-year old children in 2007. The possible influence of breastfeeding on maternal POPs serum levels and association of children's POPs blood levels and frequency of infectious diseases has been assessed.
Methods: Chemical analysis of all samples was performed in the "Typhoon" laboratory. Health data were collected from the mothers' medical files, newborns' delivery records and mothers' questionnaires.
Results: Maternal blood levels of POPs during the five-year period have decreased significantly (by 33%-74%)1 blood levels of Pb have decreased by 21%1 while mercury levels remained the same. The infant blood serum levels of most POPs during five-year period have increased considerably; the blood lead levels have not changed, while mercury levels decreased by 31%.
Conclusions: Decline of the levels of POPs in maternal blood serum might be due to breastfeeding, but no associations have been found. Increment of POPs levels in infants' blood might be explained by prolonged breastfeeding and consumption of local food. No correlations between infants' POPs blood levels and frequency of infectious diseases has been demonstrated.