A Long-term Health Study to Monitor Levels of Arsenic and Other Metals in Adults and Children

Yellowknife, Ndılǫ and Dettah
Northwest Territories, Canada

MAIN STUDY QUESTIONS

Are local residents exposed to higher levels of arsenic compared to other Canadians?

What are the long-term relationships between arsenic and health effects?

Welcome to the Health Effects Monitoring Program

The overall objective of the Health Effects Monitoring Program (YKHEMP) is to design and implement a broad health effects biomonitoring program for the populations of Yellowknife, Ndılǫ, and Dettah focusing on arsenic and other contaminants of potential concern such as antimony, cadmium, lead, manganese, and vanadium, which might result from the Giant Mine Remediation Project (GMRP). Specifically, YKHEMP will determine current or baseline levels of arsenic exposure along with other metals before remediation work begins. Then, during remediation, new monitoring results will be compared to the baseline to ensure that participants’ arsenic levels are not increasing because of work being done at Giant Mine.

YKHEMP is designed to complement the Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment (HHERA) study which concluded in 2017, and to meet the requirements of Measure 9 of the Mackenzie Valley Review Board’s Report of Environmental Assessment, concluded in 2014. Together, YKHEMP and HHERA studies will provide a comprehensive overview of the levels of contaminants currently present in the human population and the environment.

For more information about the planning phases of the Health Effects Monitoring Program, check out our detailed Research Plan.

YKHEMP follows the First Nations principles of ownership, control, access, and possession – more commonly known as OCAP^® – assert that First Nations have control over data collection processes, and that they own and control how this information can be used.

YKHEMP Timeline

2017-2018

BASELINE SAMPLE COLLECTION

A total of 2,035 participants, ages 3 to 79 provided samples of urine, toenail clippings and saliva.

2019

RESULTS LETTERS

Sent out 2,035 personal results letters. Follow-up with participants who had higher levels of arsenic, cadmium or lead. Progress Report 1 and Community Meetings to share results.