The Northern Contaminants Program aims to reduce and where possible eliminate long-range contaminants from the Arctic Environment while providing Northerners with the information they need to make informed dietary choices, particularly concerning traditional/country food. To achieve these objectives the NCP conducts research and monitoring related to contaminants in the Arctic environment and people. Monitoring efforts focus on regular (annual) assessment of contaminant levels in a range of media, including air, biota and humans. Environmental research is conducted into the pathways, processes and effects of contaminants on Arctic ecosystems while human health research focuses on assessing contaminant exposure, toxicity research, epidemiological (cohort) studies, and risk-benefit assessment and communications. Main gaps: Contaminant measurements in Arctic seawater, toxicity data specific to Arctic species. Network type: - Thematical observations: Contaminants levels and relevant ancilliary parameters - Field stations: Atmospheric observing stations at Alert, Nunavut and Little Fox Lake, Yukon. - Community based observations: Numerous communities throughout the Canadian Arctic participate in sample collection - Coordination: National coordination of the program provided by the NCP secretariat, which also acts as liaison with AMAP.
Concentrations of inorganic elements (focus on mercury) and organic pollutants in air, biota (lake trout, burbot, charr, thick billed murres, northern fulmars, caribou, ringed seals, beluga whales, narwhal, walrus), and humans (blood). Numerous other measurements are made in and related to air, including basic meteorological variables and concentrations of particulate and halogen species. Basic morphometric measurements are made on biota along with determination of age, lipid content sampled tissues, and concentrations of stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon. Numerous human health endpoints are measured along with the assessment of contaminant concentrations in human blood.
National coordination of the program provided by the NCP secretariat, which also acts as liaison with AMAP. Networks: Stockholm Convention Global Monitoring Plan (Stockholm Convention Global Monitoring Plan), Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW), Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP)
Numerous communities throughout the Canadian Arctic participate in sample collection