Protecting the Health of Future Generations: Assessing and Preventing Exposures to Endocrine-Disrupting Flame Retardant Chemicals & PCBs in Two Alaska Native Arctic Communities on St. Lawrence Island

项目总结/摘要 这个以社区为基础的参与性研究项目的目标是调查接触情况， 内分泌影响，以及与遗留污染物有关的发育中断机制， 新出现的阻燃化学品在两个尤皮克社区的圣劳伦斯岛（SLI）在北极阿拉斯加。 北极受到全球蒸馏的持久性有机污染物的大气沉积的影响， 作为从低纬度地区输送的持久性有机污染物的半球汇。因此，北极作为一个重要的 该区域是一个指标区域，包含世界上一些受污染程度最高的动物和人。这 研究通过关注以下方面的水平和影响，解决了SLI人民的主要公共卫生问题： 北极土著人口中的儿童发育的传统和新出现的污染物， 弱势群体、服务不足和健康差距很大。其他研究表明， 儿童比成人更容易受到辐射。使用创新和微创技术，我们将 评估儿童接触多氯联苯、多溴联苯醚的情况， 以及新兴的卤化和非卤化有机磷酸盐阻燃剂。我们将量化PCB 和阻燃剂化学品，已知这是一个重要的接触途径。我们将评估 通过转录组学研究污染物水平与健康破坏证据之间的关系， 内分泌学我们将利用家庭灰尘中的化学浓度和维持生计的饮食， 通过稳定同位素分析确定，以评估这些化合物的暴露途径。为了 理解发育中断的机制基础，并为解释 人类数据，我们将监测我们的居民鱼的基因表达模式，内分泌学和组织学 模型，刺鱼，从污染和参考网站。总的来说，我们将增加我们的 了解接触途径、内分泌干扰和对尤皮克儿童转录组的影响 暴露在高浓度的多氯联苯和阻燃化学品中。这项研究提供了一个机会， 调查指甲和血液中多溴二苯醚和新出现的阻燃剂的含量与健康的关系 北极土著儿童的成果。我们的CBPR项目还将增强SLI社区的能力 他们需要的知识和工具来解决他们社区中的重大健康差距。我们 研究结果将为公共卫生干预措施提供信息，并广泛改善北极儿童的健康状况。 此外，发现与发育中断的早期检测相关的生物指示剂将使早期诊断成为可能。 干预和改善健康结果。重要的是，我们将通过我们的CBPR方法建立能力， 公共卫生干预措施和政策推广，这将减少SLI儿童未来接触有毒物质的机会。 化学品

Project Summary/Abstract The objectives of this community-based participatory research (CBPR) project are to investigate exposures, endocrine effects, and mechanisms of developmental disruption associated with legacy contaminants and emerging flame retardant chemicals in two Yupik communities on St. Lawrence Island (SLI) in arctic Alaska. The Arctic is subject to atmospheric deposition of globally-distilled persistent organic pollutants (POPs), acting as a hemispheric sink for POPs that are transported from lower latitudes. Thus, the Arctic is significant as an indicator region and contains some of the most highly contaminated animals and people in the world. This study addresses a primary public health concern of the people of SLI by focusing on the levels and effects of legacy and emerging contaminants on the development of children in an arctic indigenous population that is vulnerable, underserved, and experiences significant health disparities. Other studies have shown that young children are more highly exposed than adults. Using innovative and minimally invasive techniques, we will assess exposures of children to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and emerging halogenated and non-halogenated organophosphate flame retardants. We will quantify PCBs and flame retardant chemicals in household dust, known to be an important exposure route. We will assess relationships among contaminant levels and evidence of health disruption via transcriptomics and endocrinology. We will use chemical concentrations in household dust and utilization of a subsistence diet as determined by stable isotope analysis to assess exposure pathways of these compounds. In order to understand the mechanistic basis of developmental disruption, and to have a reference for interpretation of human data, we will monitor patterns of gene expression, endocrinology, and histology of our resident fish model, the stickleback, from both contaminated and reference sites. Collectively, we will increase our understanding of routes of exposure, endocrine disruption, and effects on the transcriptome of Yupik children exposed to high levels of PCBs and flame retardant chemicals. This study provides an opportunity to investigate the levels of PBDEs and emerging flame retardants in nails and blood in relation to health outcomes of arctic indigenous children for the first time. Our CBPR project will also empower SLI communities with the knowledge and tools they need to address important health disparities in their communities. Our results will inform public health interventions and improve health outcomes of arctic children broadly. Furthermore, discovery of bioindicators relevant to early detection of developmental disruption will enable early intervention and improve health outcomes. Importantly, we will build capacity through our CBPR approach, public health interventions, and policy outreach, which will mitigate future exposure of SLI children to toxic chemicals.