We presented the results of the “Assessment of Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) in 5 Aleutian and Pribilof Villages” and published the findings (Epidemiology Bulletin Recommendations and Reports, Vol. 4 Number 1, May 4, 2000). When additional pesticide results became available, we published an Addendum to that original report (Addendum: Pesticide Results from St. Paul and St. George, Epidemiology Bulletin Recommendations and Reports, Vol. 4 Number 6, December 27, 2000).
Recently, the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notified us that a laboratory error had occurred. The results we reported in the above two Bulletins for the pesticides p,p’-DDE and p,p’-DDT were affected by that error. The NCEH laboratory informed us that all p,p’-DDE and p,p’-DDT values previously reported must be multiplied by a correction factor of 1.35. We have been assured by the NCEH that the results we originally presented for all other chemicals in this study were correct as reported.
The purpose of this report is to reissue the original Bulletin of May 4, 2000 after including all of the available data and making all relevant corrections to the DDE and DDT values. This report replaces both the original Bulletin and the Addendum.
Taking all data including pesticide corrections into account, our conclusions and recommendations remain the same. Especially for women of childbearing age, the low levels of POPs found strongly support current recommendations for continued unrestricted consumption of traditional foods. Changes or restrictions in the subsistence diet of villages are not recommended. Aleutian and Pribilof Islanders should continue to consume their subsistence foods, which are nutritious and provide many health and cultural benefits.