08/06/2005 – A new report
released by WWF-Canada reveals that subtle
changes in the health of Arctic wildlife is
occurring as a result of chemical build-ups.
The study, conducted by researchers at Trent
University in Canada, investigated the health
of Arctic species through a variety of assessment
techniques, including contaminant analysis,
a histological survey (the microscopic structure
of animal tissues), and the documentation
of observations by Inuit hunters.
Inuit Elders and hunters living in three
eastern Arctic communities participated in
the Nunavut Wildlife Health Assessment Project
(NWHP) out of concern for the increased rate
of physical changes they are seeing in species
they rely on to maintain their way of life.
The primary goal of the three-phase project
is to assess the impact of contaminants on
the health of wildlife such as caribou, Arctic
char, ringed seal, beluga whale, and polar
bear.
According to Trent University's Dr Gordon
Balch, greater attention needs to be directed
towards wildlife health issues to determine
the magnitude and significance of these changes
to the long-term sustainability of Arctic
wildlife.
"This is particularly important in the
context of climate change, which has a strong
potential to influence the toxicological effects
of persistent organic pollutants," added
Dr Susan Sang, a Senior Manager with WWF-Canada
who headed up the study.
The histological survey found conditions
in some tissues of seals and beluga which
appeared unusual. These anomalies included
reactive and/or draining lymph nodes (suggestive
of infection in surrounding tissues), evidence
of bacterial infection in liver tissue, and
inactive spermatogenesis.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and DDT,
banned for more than twenty years, were also
found to be present in the tissue of Arctic
wildlife.
"Even less is known about what cumulative
impacts could occur when animals are exposed
to both contaminants, plus the stress of climate
related alterations to habitat, such as loss
of food, competition from southern species,
migration of pathogens, and diseases,"
Dr Sang said.
Mercury, a potent toxic metal that targets
the nervous system and brain development,
was detected in various tissues and organs
of Arctic char, ringed seals, and beluga whales.
The concentrations of total mercury increased
from char to ringed seal to beluga, demonstrating
greater accumulation in those species closest
to the top of the food chain.
Mercury levels in the kidney and the liver
of ringed seals, as well as muscle, kidney,
and liver in beluga are much higher than the
0.5 ppm level recommended for human consumption
by Canadian health officials.
The NWHP results also showed that new contaminants
such as polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE),
used in fire retardants, and the organochlorine
insecticide endosulfan, were detected in species
submitted for chemical analysis.
"Although the environmental levels of
these emerging contaminants are generally
one to two orders of magnitude below the levels
associated with the more notable legacy of
persistent organic pollutants, these compounds
possess many of the same toxicological qualities
of legacy contaminants," said Dr Sang.
"Based on other studies, these levels
are rapidly increasing in Arctic wildlife
tissues."
These results are of concern given the reliance
of Inuit communities on "country food"
obtained through hunting and fishing – a main
source of the Inuit diet.
"I believe that more research needs
to be done on animals’ (health) to keep track
of how things are going because country food
is what we depend on to live," said Moe
Keenainiak, Acting Executive Director of Qikiqtaaluk
Wildlife Board.
Inuit hunters and Elders believe that pollutants
from afar, as well as those used locally,
like oil and gas, spill from boats and land
vehicles, and are contaminating the Arctic
environment and wildlife.
Sixty per cent of those interviewed in a
survey believe that any pollutants in the
Arctic's environment would have a negative
impact on the health of wildlife.
The contamination of Arctic wildlife with
chemicals, including some no longer used in
most industrialized countries and many still
used in industrial and consumer applications,
demonstrates the ineffectiveness of health
and environmental protection laws in Canada
and elsewhere.
European countries have taken a first step
towards pollution prevention by requiring
scientific data as a precondition for producing
and marketing chemicals or products containing
chemicals. The proposed Registration, Evaluation
and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) system
should lead to the identification and phasing
out of the most harmful chemicals.
WWF-Canada has urged the Canadian government,
in the context of the current review of the
Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA),
to pursue a similar approach to protect the
environment, wildlife, and humans from toxic
chemicals.
NOTES:
• The Nunavut Wildlife Health Assessment
Project (NWHP) is a joint initiative with
the Hunters’ and Trappers’ Organizations/Associations
(HTOs/HTAs) within the Nunavut communities
of Arviat, Coral Harbour and Pangnirtung,
WWF-Canada and researchers from Trent University.
• The Nunavut Wildlife Health Assesment executive
summary and IQ report are available on WWF-Canada’s
website and final results report will be available
in June.
