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Prenatal Exposure of Canadian Children to Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Mercury

L’exposition prénatale des enfants canadiens aux biphényles polychlorés et au mercure

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Abstract

This article documents the exposure to environmental contaminants within subgroups of the Canadian population who are considered to be at risk as a result of the food they eat. We measured the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury in the blood drawn from the umbilical cords of newborns in various Aboriginal communities, in a coastal community and in the general population. Average concentrations of Aroclor 1260 ranged between 0.3 and 2.0 μg/L and were clearly highest among the Inuit of Nunavik and Baffin Island and among the Montagnais of Quebec. In these groups, we found contaminant levels in the blood of newborns that exceed the threshold beyond which cognitive impairments are expected to result. Average concentrations of mercury ranged between 1.0 and 14.2 μg/L; the Inuit of Nunavik and the NWT exhibited the highest exposure levels. A portion of the Nunavik and NWT Inuit had concentrations beyond the critical threshold for the appearance of neurological consequences. The variations in exposure levels resulted from the different nutritional practices of these Canadian sub-groups.

Abrégé

Cet article présente l’exposition aux contaminants de l’environnement de sous-groupes de la population canadienne, considérés à risque en raison de leurs habitudes alimentaires. Les concentrations de BPC et de mercure sont mesurées dans le sang du cordon ombilical de nouveau-nés provenant de plusieurs groupes autochtones, d’une population maritime et de la population générale. Les concentrations moyennes d’Aroclor 1260 varient de 0,3 à 2,0 μg/L et sont nettement les plus élevées chez les Inuits du Nunavik et de Baffin et chez les Montagnais du Québec. Elles dépassent chez les nouveau-nés de ces groupes le seuil au-delà duquel des effets cognitifs sont attendus. Les concentrations moyennes de mercure varient de 1,0 à 14,2 μg/l et les Inuits du Nunavik et des T.N.-O. sont les plus exposés. Une proportion d’Inuits du Nunavik et des T.N.-O se situe au-delà des concentrations critiques pour l’apparition d’effets neurologiques. La variation de l’exposition témoigne de différences nutritionnelles entre les différents sousgroupes canadiens.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Canada

    Gina Muckle PhD, Éric Dewailly PhD & Pierre Ayotte PhD

  2. Équipe santé et environnement, Centre de santé publique de Québec, 2400, d’Estimauville, Beauport, QC, G1E 7G9, Canada

    Gina Muckle PhD, Éric Dewailly PhD & Pierre Ayotte PhD

Authors
  1. Gina Muckle PhD
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  2. Éric Dewailly PhD
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  3. Pierre Ayotte PhD
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Correspondence to Gina Muckle PhD.

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Acknowledgements of Support Prenatal exposure to environmental contaminants has been documented in Canada–s northern regions thanks to the involvement of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (Northern Contaminant Program). The collection and analysis of samples from the Lower and Mid North Shore of the St. Lawrence were financed by Health Canada (as part of its St. Lawrence Vision 2000 health programme). Hydro Quebec funded the work undertaken in southern Quebec and also co-financed the collection and analysis of samples from Nunavik.

Remerciements pour l’aide financière: C’est grâce à l’implication du ministère des Affaires indiennes et du Nord canadien (Northern Contaminant Program) que l’exposition prénatale aux contaminants environnementaux a été documentée dans le nord du Canada. La collecte et l’analyse des échantillons provenant de la Basse et Moyenne-Côte-Nord du Saint-Laurent ont été financées par Santé Canada (Volet santé du programme Saint-Laurent Vision 2000). Les travaux réalisés dans le sud du Québec ont été financés par Hydro-Québec, lequel a aussi cofinancé la collecte et l’analyse des échantillons provenant du Nunavik

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Muckle, G., Dewailly, É. & Ayotte, P. Prenatal Exposure of Canadian Children to Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Mercury. Can J Public Health 89 (Suppl 1), S22–S27 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405091

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