Brief: Assessment of the significance of aquatic food chains as a pathways of exposure of indigenous peoples to PTS, assessment of the relative importance of local and distant sources, and the role of atmospheric and riverine transport of PTS in Northern Russia. Project rationale and objectives: (1) To assess levels of Persistent Toxic Substances (PTS) in the environment in selected areas of the Russian North, their biomagnification in aquatic and terrestrial food chains, and contamination of traditional (country) foods that are important components of the diet of indigenous peoples. (2) To assess exposure of indigenous peoples in the Russian North to PTS, and the human health impacts of pollution from local and remote sources, as a basis for actions to reduce the risks associated with these exposures. (3) To inform indigenous peoples about contamination by PTS of their environment and traditional food sources, and empower them to take appropriate remedial actions to reduce health risks. (4) To enhance the position of the Russian Federation in international negotiations to reduce the use of PTS, and to empower the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) to participate actively and fully in these negotiations. Project activities to achieve outcomes: (1) Inventory of local pollution sources in the vicinities of selected indigenous communities. (2) Survey of levels and fluxes of PTS in riverine and coastal marine environment important for indigenous peoples living in these environments and using them for their subsistence; and assessment of fluxes of PTS to these environments via selected rivers and the atmosphere. (3) Dietary surveys of selected indigenous communities. (4) Study of biomagnification, based on measurements of selected PTS in representative species in food chains important for the traditional diet of indigenous populations. (5) Survey and comparative assessment of pollution levels of the indigenous and general population in selected areas. (6) Dissemination of results to all relevant stakeholders.
Sampling 2000: Kola Peninsula (67.798 - 68.765 N, 34.303 - 36.102 E, Lovozero area) Lower Pechora (67.955 - 68.226 N, 52.906 - 53.292 E, Nelmin Nos area) Taimyr Peninsula (69.366 - 70.696 N, 83.633 - 89.121 E, Dudinka area) and (71.957 - 74.519 N, 100.527 - 105.788 E, Khatanga area) Chukotka (65.048 - 65.518 N, 176.315 - 177.380 E, Kanchalan area) and (65.115 - 65.715 N, 170.942 - 171.786 E, Lavrentia area)
Samples stored prior to analyses in freezers at RCMA, St. Petersburg
Sampling and analytical methodological recommendations: Report of the Experts Meeting on Sampling and Analysis of Persistent Toxic Substances (PTS), St. Petersburg, Russia, 28 May - 1 June 2000. AMAP Report 2000:6. Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Field-sampling, described in: Persistent Toxic Substances (PTS), Food Security and Indigenous Peoples of the Russian North. Sub-project: Collection and treatment of samples for the survey of PTS in the environment and food-chains in the vicinities of the indigenous settlements (season summer-autumn 2000). Final report. In Web LLC and RCMA. Report to AMAP. January 2001
Analytical QA/QC through participation in QUASIMEME and AMAP human health analytical QA programmes.
Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON), Russian Ministry of Natural Resources, Russian Ministry of Health, Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring
UNEP GEF
Sampling partly conducted by indigenous hunters. Local project coordination by RAIPON.
Multilateral project proposed by Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) in co-operation with Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC), Saami Council (SC) and Aleut International Association (AIA). At the request of RAIPON and Russian authorities, AMAP has undertaken to assist in the functions of general execution, co-ordination and administration of the project. Project implementation is jointly financed by UNEP Global Environment Facility (GEF), all 8 Arctic countries, Salamander Foundation, Barents Secretariat, Nordic Council of Ministers, UN-ECE, WMO.