title: Exposure to toxic metals and persistent organic pollutants in Inuit children attending childcare centers in Nunavik, Canada.
abstract: Arctic populations are exposed to substantial levels of environmental contaminants that can negatively affect children's health and development. Moreover, emerging contaminants have never been assessed in Inuit children. In this study, we document the biological exposure to toxic metals and legacy and emerging persistent organic pollutants (POPs) of 155 Inuit children (mean age 25.2 months) attending childcare centers in Nunavik. Blood samples were analyzed to determine concentrations of mercury, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, brominated flame retardants [e.g., polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)] and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFASs; e.g. perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctane (PFOA)]. Lead [geometric mean (GM) 0.08 μmol/L], PCB-153 (GM 22.2 ng/g of lipid), BDE-47 (GM 184 ng/g of lipid), PFOS (GM 3369 ng/L), and PFOA (GM 1617 ng/L) were detected in all samples. Mercury (GM 9.8 nmol/L) was detected in nearly all blood samples (97%). Levels of metals and legacy POPs are consistent with the decreasing trend observed in Nunavik and in the Arctic. PBDE levels were higher than those observed in many children and adolescents around the world but lower than those reported in some U.S. cities. PFOS were present in lower concentrations than in Nunavimmiut adults. There is a clear need for continued biomonitoring of blood contaminant levels in this population, particularly for PBDEs and PFASs.
authors.affiliation: Groupe d'études en nutrition publique, Département des sciences des aliments et de nutrition, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada. huguette.turgeon-obrien@fsaa.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Huguette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Turgeon O'Brien
authors.forename: Rosanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blanchet
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gagné
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lauzière
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vézina
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vaissière
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ayotte
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Déry
mesh_terms: D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000097:blood; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D004930:Inuit; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood; D010575:Pesticides / Q000097:blood; D011792:Quebec
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury