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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Pamela K. Miller, MEn¹, Viola Waghiyi¹, David O. Carpenter, MD², and Jesse Gologergen¹. (1) Alaska Community Action on Toxics, 505 West Northern Lights, Suite 205, Anchorage, AK 99503, (907) 222-7714, pkmiller@akaction.net, (2) Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, SUNY, 5 University Place, Room A217, Rensselaer, NY 12144-3429

Researchers will present the findings of a 4-year NIEHS-funded project, Environmental Health and Justice for St. Lawrence Island. The primary objective of this project was to establish self-sufficiency in two Alaska Native communities, within existing health care systems, to minimize exposure to environmental contaminants. Research programs were designed by members of the St. Lawrence Island (SLI) communities in conjunction with research scientists and health care providers to achieve the following specific aims: 1) Identify sources of contaminants affecting the SLI communities, such as contaminants from Formerly Used Defense Sites and long-range transport of pollutants by oceanic and atmospheric currents; 2) Describe past and current health problems of SLI residents that may be linked to the identified environmental contamination; 3) Work toward ameliorating contaminated sites and preventing new sources of contaminants. 4) Create a training program for residents, community health specialists, and regional health care providers that address the prevention and treatment of environmental health problems in the SLI communities. This project was intended to serve as a model to establish the most effective way to exchange information among remote or isolated Alaska Native maritime communities, health care providers, and scientists concerning environmental justice and health. Although the program developed through this study were used to benefit St. Lawrence Island specifically, the project provides information on how to repeat successes in similar situations in other areas of the United States.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about the methods, analysis and interpretation of bio-monitoring data in relation to investigations of the environmental and health impacts of contamination from military sites and long-range transport of persistent pollutants.
• Discuss community perspectives about bio-monitoring and how data may be used to make decisions and affect public health policy.
• Learn about the case study of a community-based environmental health and justice research project on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, involving training of community field and health researchers, environmental sampling program, and health assessments.

Keywords: Environmental Justice, Environmental Health

Related Web page: www.akaction.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No