AMAP评估报告解读:北极人类健康

Interpretation of AMAP Assessment Reports:human health in the Arctic

全球气候变暖及人类活动加剧对北极地区居民的健康造成了日益严重的威胁,需要全面评估以应对挑战。在此背景下,北极理事会北极监测与评估计划(AMAP)工作组于2021年发布了最新版本的《北极人类健康》评估报告。报告指出:(1)传统当地食物(海洋哺乳动物和鱼类)是北极居民文化和营养摄入的核心,也是他们接触持久性有机污染物(POPs)和有害金属元素的主要来源;(2)北极居民的饮食结构正在发生变化,即传统食物在北极原住民日常饮食中的比重随时间推移持续下降,而进口食物(如:谷物、蔬菜、水果和汽水等)则逐渐增加,其变化的影响是积极还是消极,取决于新饮食结构的具体组成以及对传统饮食的维持程度。此外,对进口食品依赖程度的增加也引发了人们对粮食安全问题的担忧;(3)与非北极国家或北极国家的非北极地区相比,丹麦格陵兰岛和法罗群岛、加拿大努那维克以及俄罗斯楚科奇沿海等北极地区居民体内的POPs水平高出其他地区数倍;(4)在北极居民体内测量到的许多POPs以及汞和铅等金属元素的水平正在下降,但全氟和多氟烷基物质(PFASs)在格陵兰岛、加拿大努那维克和瑞典等地区有所增加;(5)这些污染物会对人体的神经行为功能、免疫效果、生殖、心血管、内分泌健康等方面产生众多负面影响,并可能会增加患癌风险,多食用ω-3脂肪酸含量高的食物能有助于减少这些污染物对人体健康的影响;(6)为了更好地评估和比较北极居民所面临的与污染物有关的健康风险,需要制定统一的风险评估方法和新模型,并在北极各司法管辖区内统一使用,以确保高质量的数据和结果的可比性;(7)报告呼吁加强国际合作,共同应对北极地区人类健康面临的挑战;同时,加强对北极地区环境监测和治理,减少环境污染和生态破坏;此外,还应提高当地居民的健康意识和防护能力,改善医疗服务状况,为北极地区居民提供更好的健康保障。

Global warming and increasing human activities pose growing threats to the health of Arctic indige⁃nous people,and a comprehensive assessment is needed to address the challenges.In this context,the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program(AMAP)of the Arctic Council released the report“Human Health in the Arctic 2021”.Based on extensive scientific research and field studies,the report presents a detailed analysis of the impact of climate change,pollution,food security and socio-economic factors on human health in the Arc⁃tic,and states decision-making recommendations.The report points out that:(1)traditional local foods remain critical to the cultural and nutritional diets of Arctic peoples,but they are also a major source of their exposure to pollutants.Most wild foods in the Arctic are nutritious and low in contaminants,but the meat and organs of ma⁃rine mammals and fish often contain high levels of persistent organic pollutants(POPs)and harmful metal ele⁃ments.(2)The dietary structure of Arctic residents is changing,i.e.the proportion of traditional foods in the daily diet of Arctic indigenous peoples is decreasing over time,while the proportion of imported foods(such as cereals,vegetables,fruits and soft drinks)is gradually increasing.Whether the impact of this change is positive or negative for local people depends on the specific composition of the new diets and the extent to which tradi⁃tional diets are maintained.In addition,the increasing reliance on imported food has raised concerns about food security.(3)Levels of persistent organic pollutants(POPs)in the inhabitants of Arctic regions such as Green⁃land and the Faroe Islands in Denmark,Nunavut in Canada and Chukotka in Russia were several times higher than those of non-Arctic regions or other Arctic countries such as Norway,Sweden and Finland.These changes in traditional diets are the main reasons for the differences in the types and levels of pollutants in different Arctic countries and regions.(4)Levels of many POPs and metal elements such as mercury and lead measured in Arc⁃tic residents are decreasing.However,an increase in perfluoroalkyl substances(PFASs)has been observed in regions including Greenland,Nunavut and Sweden.This may be due to the historical lack of governmental and institutional regulation of PFASs,which have only recently come under the purview of the Stockholm Conven⁃tion.(5)These pollutants have many negative effects on human neurobehavioral function,immune function,re⁃production,cardiovascular and endocrine health,and may increase the risk of cancer.But taking more foods high inω-3 fatty acids can help reduce the impact of these pollutants on human health.(6)In order to better as⁃sess and compare the health risks posed to Arctic residents by pollutants,a common risk assessment methodolo⁃gy and new models need to be developed and applied consistently across Arctic jurisdictions to ensure high quali⁃ty data and comparability of results.(7)The report calls for increased international cooperation to jointly ad⁃dress human health challenges in the Arctic region.At the same time,the monitoring and management of the Arctic environment must be strengthened to reduce environmental pollution and ecological deterioration.It is al⁃so necessary to increase the health awareness and protection capacity of local residents,to improve medical ser⁃vices and to provide better health protection for Arctic residents.In conclusion,the report gives us an important reference for understanding the human health situation in the Arctic region.It reminds us of the impact of global issues such as climate change and environmental pollution on human health in the Arctic region,and calls on us to take more action to protect the health and safety of Arctic indigenous people.