ATSDR Releases Health Consultation on Alaska Native Traditional Foods From Cook Inlet AreaPort Graham, Nanwalek, Seldovia, Alaska Wednesday, July 29, 2009 ATLANTA---The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has completed a health consultation requested by the Alaska Native villages of Port Graham, Nanwalek, Seldovia, and Tyonek in the Cook Inlet area of Alaska. Village residents asked for the health consultation to find out whether eating Alaska Native traditional foods could harm people�s health. One of the most important points from the health consultation is that a traditional food called chiton (badarki) has lead in it, and eating food with lead in it could harm children's health. Therefore, to protect children's health, preschool and elementary-age children should eat no more than 3 ounces of chiton per week. To do the health consultation, ATSDR reviewed seafood and plant data collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Environmental Monitoring Program. Environmental data were available on salmon and other saltwater fish, mussels, clams, snail, chiton, octopus, kelp, seaweed, and goose tongue. ATSDR's findings and conclusions The data showed that small amounts of metals, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and one dioxin compound were in traditional native foods from Cook Inlet. The small amounts of chemicals found in many native foods were often at levels found in fish from other parts of Alaska and from grocery stores in the United States. The following are ATSDR's five main conclusions from the health consultation report:
ATSDR will provide the findings of this health consultation to the village chiefs for Port Graham, Nanwalek, Seldovia, and Tyonek, and to officials of the State of Alaska and the EPA. Also, ATSDR has posted a copy of the health consultation on the Internet at the following URL: ATSDR's recommendations On the basis of the findings of the health consultation, ATSDR recommends -
Where to get more information The State of Alaska provides much information about the health benefits and risks of consuming native foods. People can get information about chemicals such as PCBs and mercury, along with advice about eating fish at this State of Alaska website: http://www.epi.hss.state.ak.us/eh/subsistence.htm. Parents can find out how to prevent lead from harming their children's health by getting information from local clinics. Also, information about the state�s lead program is available on the web at http://www.epi.hss.state.ak.us/eh/default.stm or from a staff member of the State of Alaska's lead surveillance program at 907-269-8000. For more information about chemicals in native foods, members of the public should contact ATSDR at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) and ask to be transferred to Dr. David Mellard. About ATSDR ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances. ATSDR is committed to helping Alaska Natives protect their native foods and culture. ### Members of the news media can request an interview by calling the NCEH/ATSDR Office of Communication at 770-488-0700. Related News Releases For Port Graham, Nanwalek, Seldovia, Alaska, USA
ATSDR Releases Health Consultation on Alaska Native
Traditional Foods From Cook Inlet Area
ATSDR Releases Health Consultation on Alaska Native
Traditional Foods from Cook Inlet Area
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