Traditional food consumption for Indigenous peoples is associated with improved nutrition and health but can also pose potential risks via exposure to contaminants. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds of interest due to their widespread presence (e.g., their metabolites are detected in up to 100% of the Canadian population) and their toxicological potential. To better understand the range of exposures faced by Indigenous populations in northern Canada and to address a contaminant of emerging concern identified by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, a multi-year biomonitoring study investigated levels of PAH exposure in subarctic First Nations communities of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Secondary data analysis of banked samples from a subset of the cross-sectional study was done. PAHs and cotinine markers in the urine samples (n = 97) of participants from two regions from the Mackenzie Valley (Dehcho and Sahtú) was completed by liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Also, participants completed a 24-hr recall food survey. When compared according to age/sex categories, the GM of several biomarkers (1-hydroxypyrene, 1-naphthol, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, 2-naphthol, 3-hydroxyfluorene, 3-hydroxyphenanthrene, 4-hydroxyphenanthrene, 9-hydroxyfluorene, 9-hydroxyphenanthrene) appeared higher than observed for the general Canadian population. The PAHs levels observed were, however, below clinical levels associated with adverse health outcomes. Altogether, these elevated biomarkers are metabolites of pyrene, naphthalene, fluorene and phenanthrene. Statistically significant non-parametric associations were observed between several biomarkers and i) the consumption of cooked meat in the last 24 h; and, ii) smoking status (self-reported status and adjusted on urine cotinine level). This work is the first to report PAH levels in a northern Canadian population and provides local baseline data for monitoring the effects of changes to climate and lifestyle over time. These findings will support regional and territorial decision makers in identifying environmental health priorities.

中文翻译：

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在加拿大西北地区亚北极地区收集的尿液样本中的多环芳烃（PAHs）水平。

土著人民的传统食品消费与改善营养和健康有关，但也可能由于接触污染物而构成潜在风险。由于多环芳烃（PAH）的广泛存在（例如，其代谢物在加拿大人口中的最高100％都被检测到）及其毒理学潜力，因此成为关注的化合物。为了更好地了解加拿大北部土著居民面临的接触范围并解决北极监测与评估计划确定的新出现的污染物，一项为期多年的生物监测研究调查了西北亚弧第一原住民社区的PAH暴露水平加拿大领土。从横断面研究的一个子集对银行样品进行了二次数据分析。通过液相色谱和气相色谱与质谱联用，完成了麦肯齐山谷两个地区（Dehcho和Sahtú）参与者尿液样品（n = 97）中的PAHs和可替宁标记。此外，参与者完成了24小时召回食物调查。根据年龄/性别分类，几种生物标记物的GM（1-羟基py，1-萘酚，2-羟基芴，2-羟基菲，2-萘酚，3-羟基芴，3-羟基菲，4-羟基菲，9-羟基芴（9-羟基菲）似乎比加拿大一般人群的观察值要高。但是，观察到的PAHs水平低于与不良健康后果相关的临床水平。这些升高的生物标志物总共是pyr，萘，芴和菲的代谢产物。在几个生物标记之间观察到统计学上显着的非参数关联，并且i）最近24小时内食用熟肉的情况；（ii）吸烟状态（自我报告的状态，并根据尿中可替宁水平进行了调整）。这项工作是第一个报告加拿大北部人口中PAH含量的工作，并提供了本地基线数据来监测气候和生活方式随时间变化的影响。这些发现将支持区域和地区决策者确定环境卫生优先事项。这项工作是第一个报告加拿大北部人口中PAH含量的工作，并提供了本地基线数据来监测气候和生活方式随时间变化的影响。这些发现将支持区域和地区决策者确定环境卫生优先事项。这项工作是第一个报告加拿大北部人口中PAH含量的工作，并提供了本地基线数据来监测气候和生活方式随时间变化的影响。这些发现将支持区域和地区决策者确定环境卫生优先事项。