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International Polar Year 2007–2008 - WMO

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developed indicators in six domains: ability to guide<br />

one’s destiny, cultural integrity, contact with nature,<br />

education, health and demography, and material wellbeing.<br />

The Arctic Observation Network Social Indicators<br />

Project (AON-SIP, no. 462 - Chapter 2.10) is compiling<br />

data using a common framework, geography, time<br />

and variables. There are five clusters of indicators:<br />

community living conditions (organized within the six<br />

ASI domains), tourism, fisheries, oil gas and mining,<br />

marine transportation and marine mammal hunting<br />

(www.search-hd.net). ArcticStat is a portal database<br />

that allows the user to select and reach existing tables<br />

that cover Arctic countries and regions, some ten socioeconomic<br />

indicators and more sub-indicators, and<br />

years (www.arcticstat.org). Thousands of tables mainly<br />

from national agencies are linked to ArcticStat.<br />

Research<br />

IPY human health research focused on some of<br />

the issues of most concern to Arctic residents. These<br />

concerns include: the health impacts of environmental<br />

contaminants, climate change, rapidly changing<br />

social and economic parameters within communities,<br />

the changing patterns of chronic diseases and the<br />

continuing health disparities that exist between<br />

indigenous and non-indigenous segments of the<br />

Arctic populations. Other issues of importance, such<br />

as injuries and maternal and child health, are not<br />

captured within the endorsed IPY projects and are<br />

thus not commented on in this chapter. Nevertheless,<br />

dissemination initiatives during IPY captured the<br />

broader spectrum of health research outputs outside<br />

of the IPY programs (Young and Bjerregaard, 2008).<br />

The intensity of research activities and networks<br />

during IPY has served as a catalyst to integrated<br />

programs, which promote communities and researchers<br />

working collaboratively. It is hoped research,<br />

informed by community perspectives, will enhance<br />

the relevancy of findings and improve health policies<br />

and programs.<br />

Environmental Contaminants<br />

While socio-economic conditions and lifestyle<br />

choices are major determinants of health, contaminants<br />

may also have a contributing effect. Toxico-<br />

Fig. 2.11-4. PCB (CB<br />

153) concentration in<br />

blood (serum/plasma)<br />

of mothers, pregnant<br />

women and women<br />

of child bearing age<br />

during different time<br />

periods<br />

(Source: AMAP, 2009).<br />

s C I e n C e P r o g r a m 343

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