Grantee Research Project Results
2004 Progress Report: Reducing Risks of the Anishinaabe from Methylmercury
EPA Grant Number: R831047Title: Reducing Risks of the Anishinaabe from Methylmercury
Investigators: Kmiecik, Neil , Foran, Jeffery
Institution: Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission , Midwest Center for Environmental Science and Policy
Current Institution: Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2006 (Extended to October 31, 2007)
Project Period Covered by this Report: July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004
Project Amount: $445,830
RFA: Lifestyle and Cultural Practices of Tribal Populations and Risks from Toxic Substances in the Environment (2002) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Environmental Justice , Climate Change , Tribal Environmental Health Research , Human Health , Safer Chemicals
Objective:
The objective of this research project is to develop, implement, evaluate, and document a comprehensive, systematic, and culturally sensitive intervention program to reduce risks associated with subsistence-based consumption of walleye contaminated with methylmercury.
Progress Summary:
Work Progress
During the first 6 months of the reporting period, effort was focused on developing a work plan for the project and advertising for, interviewing, and hiring project personnel. A work plan for the project was finalized in early 2004. An environmental biologist was hired and started in April 2004. A formal relationship with a survey group—The Center for Urban Initiatives and Research (CUIR) at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee—also was established.
During the second 6 months of the reporting period, effort was focused on: (1) reconfiguration of GIS maps and associated consumption advice; (2) analysis of fish consumption data collected previously by the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC); and (3) collection of pre-intervention information on tribal knowledge and acceptance of current fish consumption advisory information through focus group meetings.
Also during this reporting period, samples of walleye were collected from 10 Minnesota lakes for mercury testing and sent to the Lake Superior Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin at Superior for analysis.
Reconfiguration of Geographic Information System (GIS) Maps. The GLIFWC’s GIS-based fish consumption maps were reconfigured to ensure that they are protective of human health, consistent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approach to the management of methylmercury in fish tissues, and sensitive to Anishinaabe culture and treaty reserved rights to harvest. Maps also were reconfigured to ensure that they are user-friendly and easily accessible by tribal members. A series of focus groups composed of tribal members, designed and conducted by the CUIR in conjunction with the GLIFWC and project personnel, were held during the period to inform the map reconfiguration process and to ensure that maps were understandable and easily accessible to tribal members. Final map configuration will be completed during the first 4 months of Year 2 of the project.
Analysis of Fish Consumption Data. The GLIFWC previously conducted a 5-year survey of fish consumption behavior among tribal members. Data collected from the Fish Consumption Survey (FCS) included meal size and frequency as a function of age, gender, and other characteristics. Extensive analysis of the data from the FCS was conducted during the second half of the project period and will be completed during the first half of Year 2 of the project. Probabilistic analysis may be conducted to allow thorough analysis of this comprehensive and extensive database.
Collection of Pre-Intervention Information. Information on current fish consumption patterns, knowledge of GIS-based maps and other ongoing efforts to disseminate fish consumption advice, and current knowledge of the risks associated with exposure to methylmercury are required to determine whether and how the project’s comprehensive behavioral intervention influences tribal fish consumption behavior. A series of tribal focus groups described previously was conducted to inform the map reconfiguration process and to assess current knowledge of mercury risks and associated consumption advisories. This information is being used in the development of comprehensive, quantitative pre- and postintervention surveys that will assess intervention efficacy. The first of several intervention-associated surveys will be conducted during Year 2 of the project.
Preliminary Data/Results
Results of focus group meetings are in preparation and require review at several levels prior to distribution. They will be distributed upon completion of the review process. Results of the FCS analysis also are in preparation and will require review at several levels prior to distribution. They also will be distributed upon completion of the review process. We expect to submit publication results of the FCS analysis during Year 2 of the project. A confidential prepublication copy of the manuscript(s) may be made available to the EPA project officer, as appropriate. Results of mercury testing of walleye fillets will be provided when the second annual progress report is prepared.
Several news articles on this research project were published in Greenwire, an online news service in Washington, DC, in May 2004; the Ashland Press and Duluth News and Tribune in June 2004; the Journal Times of Racine, Wisconsin, in August 2004; and Masinaigan, the GLIFWC quarterly publication, in August 2004.
Future Activities:
During Year 2 of the project, we will complete GIS map reconfiguration and associated activities (e.g., printing and distribution of maps, revision and reprint of a Masinaigan supplement, and FCS analysis) and begin behavioral interventions. Pre- and postintervention efficacy surveys also will be conducted. Intervention and efficacy surveys during Year 2 will be focused initially on tribal harvesters. After assessment of the initial intervention, subsequent interventions and efficacy analyses will be focused on sensitive subpopulations including women of child-bearing age, pregnant women, and parents of young children. Walleye will be collected from 10 Michigan lakes for mercury testing.
One contractual change is planned for Year 2. Barbara Knuth at Cornell University (rather than Technical Outreach Services to Communities [TOSC]) has agreed to assist in developing intervention tools to communicate exposure risks effectively. In addition, a collaboration for probabilistic analysis of the FCS is being explored and funds originally budgeted for TOSC may be used.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 53 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
risk management strategies, uncertainty reduction, models, risk-based methodology, tribal health, developmental neurotoxin, high fish consumption, treaty fish,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Health, PHYSICAL ASPECTS, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Water, HUMAN HEALTH, Genetics, Exposure, Environmental Chemistry, Health Risk Assessment, Risk Assessments, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Physical Processes, genetic susceptability, Risk Assessment, Mercury, human consumption, health risks, GIS-based model, genetic predisposition, Anishinaabe, Human Health Risk Assessment, fish consumption, methylmercury, human exposure, cultural practices, culturally sensitive, native americans, dietary exposure, fish-borne toxicantsProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.