title: Is tetraethyl lead poison affecting contemporary indigenous suicides in Ontario, Canada?
abstract: Prior to the mid-1980s, suicide in Indigenous population in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, was rare, occurring at rates of 1-2 per year among over 20 communities. By the early 1990s, the completed suicide rates in the same communities were among the highest in the world. Prior to the outbreak of the suicide epidemic, sniffing of gasoline containing tetraethyl was common in many communities. Existing literature confirms that tetraethyl lead poisoning is associated with alterations to the amyloid-β protein precursor and amyloid-β as well as the 5-HT-1B receptor. The presence of this risk factor within the population warrants further inquiry.
authors.affiliation: Research Analyst II, Project Lead, First Nations' Depression Awareness & Suicide Prevention Program, CAN-BIND Outreach, Department of Psychiatry, University Health Network, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5B 1W8. Electronic address: Trehani.Fonseka@uhn.ca.
authors.forename: Trehani Mary
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Fonseka
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Schulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1465 Richmond St., PHFM 4115, London, Ontario, Canada N6G 2M1. Electronic address: gmckinl@uwo.ca.
authors.forename: Gerald P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: McKinley
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Arthur Sommer Rotenberg Chair in Suicide & Depression Studies, St. Michael's Hospital, Canadian Biomarker Integration Network for Depression, University Health Network, 399 Bathurst St., Toronto, Ontario Canada M5T 2S8. Electronic address: Sidney.kennedy@uhn.ca.
authors.forename: Sidney H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005742:Gasoline / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013756:Tetraethyl Lead / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D005742:Gasoline; D013756:Tetraethyl Lead