Article
Environmental Sciences
Claudia Galeano-Paez, Pedro Espitia-Perez, Luisa Jimenez-Vidal, Karina Pastor-Sierra, Shirley Salcedo-Arteaga, Luz Stella Hoyos-Giraldo, Adriana Gioda, Tatiana Dillenburg Saint'Pierre, Solange Cristina Garcia, Hugo Brango, Lyda Espitia-Perez
Summary: The study found that residents of La Mojana region showed significant increase in cytogenetic damage and total Hg levels in hair, which were related to high fish consumption. High fish consumption and T-Hg contents were also correlated with necrotic and apoptotic cell frequencies. Additionally, exposure to Hg induced genetic instability and increased micronuclei frequencies in individuals who consumed certain fish species with carnivorous habits.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Buyun Du, Ping Li, Xinbin Feng, Runsheng Yin, Jun Zhou, Laurence Maurice
Summary: Recent studies in Guiyang, China, have shown that rice consumption is the major pathway for human methylmercury exposure, especially for school children. Hair and urine mercury concentrations showed slight seasonal variations, with higher values during the cold season. Students had significantly higher urine mercury concentrations compared to adults due to unique physiological factors, highlighting the need for more attention to children as a susceptible population.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liliana Carranza-Lopez, Neda Alvarez-Ortega, Karina Caballero-Gallardo, Audreis Gonzalez-Montes, Jesus Olivero-Verbel
Summary: The study evaluated blood lead levels in children from fishing populations in Northern Colombia and found that lead exposure promoted different health impacts depending on age, sex, and other site-specific factors. Boys had greater BLL than girls, and children born preterm had higher BLL levels. In Loma de Arena, the mRNA expression of interferon gamma increased with BLL, while it decreased in Tierrabomba. Appropriate educational and intervention programs should be carried out to minimize Pb exposure in children in fishing communities.
BIOLOGICAL TRACE ELEMENT RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Baolin Wang, Haiyan Hu, Kevin Bishop, Moritz Buck, Erik Bjorn, Ulf Skyllberg, Mats B. Nilsson, Stefan Bertilsson, Andrea G. Bravo
Summary: Peatlands are important sources of methylmercury (MeHg) contamination, and microbial activity plays a crucial role in mercury geochemical cycles and MeHg formation. The composition of microbial communities in peatlands varies spatially and is significantly associated with net MeHg formation.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elias C. Nyanza, Francois P. Bernier, Jonathan W. Martin, Mange Manyama, Jennifer Hatfield, Deborah Dewey
Summary: The study found that prenatal exposure to mercury in women in areas with ASGM activities may lead to neurodevelopmental issues in infants, particularly language impairment. Co-exposure to high concentrations of mercury and lead, or mercury and arsenic, seemed to have negative potentiated effects on infants' neurodevelopment.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kavita Singh, Scott Blechinger, Luc Pelletier, Subramanian Karthikeyan, Annie St-Amand, Eric N. Liberda, Hing Man Chan
Summary: The study analyzed the hair and blood mercury levels in the Canadian population and explored factors associated with higher/lower ratios. The results showed that the average hair:blood mercury ratio among Canadians exceeded the default ratio of 250:1 recommended by the WHO. Shellfish consumption was found to be the most important factor associated with the ratio.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara Packull-McCormick, Alicia Cowan, Ken D. Stark, Mike Low, Mary Gamberg, Heidi Swanson, Brian Laird
Summary: Indigenous communities in northern Canada rely on locally harvested traditional foods, including fish, which provides them with nutritional, cultural, and social benefits. However, mercury exposure from fish consumption can pose a health risk for populations that consume large amounts of fish with elevated mercury concentrations. This study examined mercury bioaccessibility in freshwater fish species and found significant differences in total mercury bioaccessibility among fish species and lakes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Carla Johnston, Andrew Spring
Summary: Communities in Canada's Northwest Territories are actively addressing the global climate emergency through local-level programs to maintain livelihoods and promote adaptation. In global governance, prioritizing community needs and decision-making is crucial to assist Indigenous communities in achieving their goals of adapting food systems to climate change.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
F. Dhifallah, A. Rochon, N. Simard, C. W. McKindsey, M. Gosselin, K. L. Howland
Summary: The increase in shipping activities in the Canadian Arctic is predicted to introduce non-indigenous species, including potentially harmful dinoflagellate taxa, which can have significant ecological and economic impacts. This study characterizes dinoflagellate communities in high-risk Canadian Arctic ports, providing baseline data and confirming the presence of potential non-indigenous and harmful species. The findings suggest that shipping activities have already introduced new species, and the situation may worsen due to prolonged ice-free conditions caused by global warming.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Barbara Guidi, Andrea Michienzi, Laura Ricci
Summary: This paper introduces a distributed protocol DISCO for detecting and managing communities in a distributed dynamic environment, specifically in Decentralised Online Social Networks (DOSNs). DISCO is based on a Temporal Trade-off approach and utilizes super-peers for community management. The paper evaluates DISCO using a dataset from Facebook and demonstrates its effectiveness in highly dynamic and distributed environments.
PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKING AND APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Igor A. Dmitrenko, Sergei A. Kirillov, Bert Rudels, Nicolas-Xavier Geilfus, Jens Ehn, David G. Babb, David A. Lilien, Dorthe Dahl-Jensen
Summary: This article investigates the oceanography of the northern Canadian Arctic Archipelago, focusing on a fjord system around Axel Heiberg Island. The study reveals the modifications of Pacific and Atlantic water in this area and identifies geothermal heating near the seafloor.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Buyun Du, Runsheng Yin, Xuewu Fu, Ping Li, Xinbin Feng, Laurence Maurice
Summary: This study investigated the pathways of human mercury exposure using Hg isotopic analysis, finding isotopic differences between TGM and urine samples, as well as urine and dietary components. The positive Delta Hg-199 in urine samples from the urban area was attributed to fish consumption, with fish contributing 22% of urine Hg in urban families but limited Hg in mining and background areas. The study highlighted the utility of Hg isotopes as tracers for understanding Hg sources and fates in human bodies.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Business
Denitsa Dineva, Jan Breitsohl
Summary: This study aims to examine the meso-level perspective of trolling management by focusing on organizational practice. Six distinct trolling management strategies are identified and categorized by their direct versus indirect communication approach. Some strategies are deemed to be more successful than others in generating positive community outcomes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lei Zhang, Chuang Bao, Lishuang Guo, Deyang Shi, Liling Zhao, Guangrong Chen, Yaowei Liu
Summary: The study investigated the distribution of soil Hg in the active Zemuhe fault zone in Sichuan, China, and found a positive correlation between THg and TOC concentrations, suggesting that Hg enrichment may result from adsorption onto organic matter. The migration and accumulation of Hg in the fault zone was related to the fault structure, and natural emissions were the main driving force behind Hg enrichment.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoming Zhou, Yijun Feng, Zonglin Gong
Summary: This study found associations between blood levels of heavy metal elements cadmium, lead, mercury, urinary total arsenic, dimethylarsinic acid and elevation of ALT in adults. The associations between blood lead and mercury with ALT elevation were only observed in women.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Katherine Peck, Rebekah Rodericks, Lola Irvin, Lila Johnson, Jill Tamashiro, Lance Ching, Tetine Sentell, Catherine Pirkle
Summary: The objective of this study was to identify recommended components for adopting, implementing, and enforcing bans or restrictions on flavored tobacco products. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 high-level experts in the USA and Canada who had expertise in flavored tobacco product policies. The major findings were categorized into four areas: program planning and legislative preparations, education and community outreach, implementation and enforcement, and policy impact. Critical elements for pre-implementation included comprehensive policy language, identifying enforcement agents, examining potential economic costs, deploying media campaigns, and engaging community partners and retailers. Recommended implementation processes included a 6-month preparation timeline, focus on retailer education, and clearly outlined enforcement procedures, particularly for concept flavors. The study concludes that sharing best practices can improve the passage, implementation, efficacy, and evaluation of flavored tobacco policies.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Yan Yan Wu, Mika D. Thompson, Fadi Youkhana, Catherine M. Pirkle
Summary: This study found a significant interaction between polygenic risk scores (PGS) and physical activity on the prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) among White participants, while no similar interactions were detected among Black participants. These findings suggest that the interaction of different genetic risk profiles with lifestyle factors may play a role in interventions' efficacy for different population groups.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Anthropology
Laurence Lebel, Vincent Paquin, Tiff-Annie Kenny, Christopher Fletcher, Lucie Nadeau, Eduardo Chachamovich, Melanie Lemire
Summary: Climate change disproportionately affects the mental health of Indigenous Peoples in the Circumpolar North, with impacts on physical health as well. This systematic review examines the current scientific knowledge on the links between climate change and mental health in Arctic and Subarctic Indigenous Populations. The study finds that being on the land is a key determinant of wellbeing, and immediate impacts of climate change include restricted mobility and disrupted livelihoods. The effects on mental health are also seen through changes in culture and identity, food insecurity, interpersonal stress, and housing problems.
TRANSCULTURAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gwyneth A. MacMillan, Marc Amyot, Pierre-Yves Daoust, Melanie Lemire
Summary: In this study, we measured trace elements and mercury distribution in grey seals from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada, and found a bioaccumulation pattern in different age groups. The concentrations of elements were lower in the muscles and livers of young-of-the-year seals compared to older ones feeding at sea. There were no significant sex-specific differences, but some elements showed higher concentrations in male seals.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elyse Caron-Beaudoin, Pierre Ayotte, Amira Aker, Caty Blanchette, Sylvie Ricard, Veronique Gilbert, Ellen Avard, Melanie Lemire
Summary: This study found that Inuit people are exposed to numerous volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Smoking habit is an important contributor to the elevated levels of benzene and PAHs exposure. Other local sources of exposure need to be further investigated and reduced.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amira Aker, Elyse Caron-Beaudoin, Pierre Ayotte, Sylvie Ricard, Veronique Gilbert, Ellen Avard, Melanie Lemire
Summary: The study found that certain non-persistent chemicals were found at higher concentrations in Inuit adults compared to the general Canadian population, particularly among women and Ungava Bay residents.
JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Claudelle Dubeau, Amira Aker, Elyse Caron-Beaudoin, Pierre Ayotte, Caty Blanchette, Nancy Gros-Louis McHugh, Melanie Lemire
Summary: This study aimed to compare the exposure to perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) and bisphenol-A (BPA) in four First Nation communities in Quebec with the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). The study found higher levels of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) in the JES-YEH! project compared to CHMS, and higher BPA levels among individuals aged 12-19 years compared to CHMS. Dairy products were associated with PFNA and BPA exposure among the participants.
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rai Nabichedi da Silva, Catherine M. Pirkle, Tetine Sentell, Nicole Kahielani Peltzer, Yan Yan Wu, Marlos R. Domingues, Saionara M. A. Camara
Summary: This study examines THB trajectories during pregnancy and postpartum and associated factors among adolescents and adults from a low-income community. The rebound in THB concentration between the third trimester and postpartum was not enough to make up for the initial losses in the adolescent cohort. Special attention should be given to prenatal care among pregnant adolescents due to their higher risk of anemia.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Saionara M. A. Camara, Meghan D. McGurk, Denise Gigante, Mateus D. A. Lima, Alena K. Shalaby, Tetine Sentell, Catherine M. Pirkle, Marlos Rodrigues Domingues
Summary: This paper reviews the complex pathways linking adolescent fertility and obesity, highlighting research gaps and priorities within Latin American populations.
ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Magali Houde, Eva M. Krummel, Tero Mustonen, Jeremy Brammer, Tanya M. Brown, John Chetelat, Parnuna Egede Dahl, Rune Dietz, Marlene Evans, Mary Gamberg, Marie-Josee Gauthier, Jose Gerin-Lajoie, Aviaja Lyberth Hauptmann, Joel P. Heath, Dominique A. Henri, Jane Kirk, Brian Laird, Melanie Lemire, Ann E. Lennert, Robert J. Letcher, Sarah Lord, Lisa Loseto, Gwyneth A. MacMillan, Stefan Mikaelsson, Edda A. Mutter, Todd O'Hara, Sonja Ostertag, Martin Robards, Vyacheslav Shadrin, Merran Smith, Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Enooyaq Sudlovenick, Heidi Swanson, Philippe J. Thomas, Virginia K. Walker, Alex Whiting
Summary: Arctic Indigenous Peoples have made significant contributions to mercury monitoring and research in the Arctic. This article highlights examples of their involvement and discusses approaches for future activities. Collaborative processes and sustainable funding are key to the success of research and monitoring in the Arctic.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amira Aker, Pierre Ayotte, Elyse Caron -Beaudoin, Amila De Silva, Sylvie Ricard, Eric Gaudreau, Melanie Lemire
Summary: This study investigated the distribution and exposure determinants of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) among Inuit adults. The results showed that the exposure to PFAAs was twice as high compared to the general Canadian population, with some PFAAs concentrations being 7-fold higher. Males had higher concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), while females had higher concentrations of perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA).
Article
Ecology
Matthew Little, Nicole Winters, Adel Achouba, Adriano Magesky, Pierre Ayotte, Tommy Palliser, Angus Naylor, Willie Jararuse, Melanie Lemire
Summary: This study aimed to combine Inuit knowledge and scientific knowledge to understand the different levels of selenoneine found in Inuit communities in Nunavik. The research confirmed the important role of beluga whales in Inuit culture, food security, and nutrition. Gender-based consumption practices were documented, including women exclusively consuming the selenoneine-rich beluga tail.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Audrey Lavoie, Melanie Lemire, Benoit Levesque, Pierre Ayotte
Summary: The prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency is relatively high among Nunavimmiut, with the highest rates found among women of childbearing age and older adults. Factors such as nutritional status, inflammation, socioeconomic status, obesity, and alcohol consumption influence iron status and anemia. Efforts should be made to improve socioeconomic status and access to nutritious foods in order to address anemia and iron deficiency in this population.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH-REVUE CANADIENNE DE SANTE PUBLIQUE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Catherine Fallon, Melanie Lemire, Dany Dumont, Elizabeth Parent, Esteban Figueroa, Isabelle Cummings, Julie Brousseau, Marie Marquis, Nicolas Paquet, Steve Plante, Holly O. Witteman
Summary: This study introduces a community-based food sovereignty project in Eastern Quebec that aims to develop a web-based decision tool to help individuals make informed choices about consuming local edible marine resources. Through a co-design process involving community members and experts, they created a prototype website that received high usability scores after several iterative cycles. The final prototype includes tools to explore each species and index cards with relevant evidence.
MDM POLICY & PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Rebecca Delafield, Jennifer Elia, Ann Chang, Bliss Kaneshiro, Tetine Sentell, Catherine M. Pirkle
Summary: The study revealed that Micronesian women in Hawai'i had a significantly higher likelihood of undergoing cesarean delivery for subjective indications compared to White women, indicating potential provider bias in decision-making regarding childbirth methods.
