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Children's Environmental Health Studies (CEHS)
MOHAWK CULTURE, BEHAVIOR, TOXICANT EXPOSURE AND HEALTH
Project Team:
Lawrence M. Schell, Joan Newman (Educational Psychology & Methodology), Anthony DeCaprio (Environmental Health & Toxicology), Agnes Jacobs, Mia V. Gallo, Julia Ravenscroft, Melinda Denham, Maxine Cole (Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment, Akwesasne, NY), and the Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment
Supported by NIEHS- ES10904-03
Introduction
Background:
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- Considerable concern exists over endocrine disrupting environmental contaminants.
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- Native American communities are particularly at risk owing to subsistence systems and a cultural ethos involving greater contact with the physical environment.•
- This investigation examines the interrelationships between Mohawk cultural identity and customs/behaviors related to toxicant exposure, and specific health effects.
Akwesasne Mohawk Nation:
- Substantial industrial development from the 1950s to the present has contaminated the local St. Lawrence River environment with numerous toxicants.
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- One National Priority Superfund site and two New York State Superfund sites are in the vicinity.
Figure 1: Location of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation.
Prior results relevant to the current study:
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- Mohawk adolescent's thyroid levels were within the clinically ‘normal’ range, but there was a significant decrease in T4 and FT4 and an increase in TSH levels with increased PCB levels.
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- A group of four potentially estrogenic PCB congeners (52, 84, 101[+90], 187) was associated with a higher likelihood of having attained menarche at a given age, or earlier age at menarche.
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- Lead was associated with a lower likelihood of having attained menarche at a given age, or in other words, later age at menarche
Specific Questions/Aims
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- Aim 1: Do behaviors associated with Mohawk cultural expression increase the risk of exposure to PCBs and other compounds?
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- Aim 2: Are body burdens of specific PCB congeners and their hydroxylated metabolites related to measures of thyroid function? function?
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- Aim 3: Are body burdens of specific PCB congeners and metabolites related to measures of school and community functioning?
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- Aim 4: Do host characteristics affect susceptibility to PCBs and modify these relationships?
Figure 2: Model of relationships between identification with Mohawk culture, behaviors, toxicant levels, and health outcomes.
Numbers refer to specific aims. Abbreviations: L=lead, H=mercury, M=metabolism, D=diet.
Material and Methods
Sample:
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- The study sample is drawn from adolescents within the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation who participated in the Mohawk Adolescent well-being study (MAWBs; conducted under the auspices of the Superfund Basic Research Program, David O. Carpenter, PI).
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- Age eligibility: 17 to 20.99 years of age.
Data Collection:
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- All data are collected by members of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation.
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- Interviews to determine exposure behaviors, socioeconomic status and community adjustment.
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- Venipuncture for PCB analysis and thyroid function assay.
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- School records and teacher reports.
Toxicants Measured:
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- PCBs: a group of 209 lipophilic compounds.
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- p,p’-DDE: a metabolite of DDT.
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- HCB: used as a pesticide until 1965.
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- Mirex: used as an insecticide and flame retardant.
Progress to Date
Major accomplishments of the project to date:
Data analysis cannot begin until data collection and toxicant analysis are complete.
Participant recruitment and data collection:
- 150 enrolled participants (as of January 1st, 2005): 91 females, 59 males.
- 139 participants have completed interviews and blood draws: 85 females, 54 males.
Community Outreach and Education Program (COEP):
- Supporting a weekly Mohawk radio program, broadcast in the Native language, on current environmental and health issues related to our research (97.3 FM/CKON);
- Participated in an environmental conference in May 2003 in collaboration with the Akwesasne Task Force on the environment;
- Conducted a seminar for local health care providers in May 2003;
- Conducted an environmental conference in October 2002 in collaboration with the recipients of a NIEHS Environmental Justice Partnerships for Communication grant at Akwesasne;
- Created posters for the annual health fair and other community festivals;
- Conducted a community meeting for study participants and their families in March 2002;
- Conducted diet and food preparation workshops with community members to promote reduction of exposure to PCBs and other lipophilic toxicants.
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Mohawk research projects for the health of our seven generations…
How are PCBs affecting our health and Mohawk way of life? |
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For more information, please contact:
Agnes "Sweets" Jacobs, Data Collection and Research
Maxine Cole, Community Outreach Education Program
Moved to: First Environment Research Projects, Kanienkehaka Offices, 155 Routh #37, Hogansburg, NY 13655 (next to the Kanienkehaka Fuel Station), 518-358-9223 |
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Please send questions or comments about CEHS
to: lmschell@albany.edu
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