Monitoring strategy

Posisjon  3

Monitoring strategy

In general, the Core Monitoring Program will continue to monitor human contaminant exposure levels in selected areas in order to establish and follow time trends of exposure; it will complete the geographical coverage of human tissue analyses in the Arctic; and it will continue to focus on mothers and newborns.


Suggested readings:
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Monitoring for trends.
The first circumpolar blood monitoring initiative began in 1994. It is important to repeat this monitoring initiative in some previously sampled areas in order to establish time trends of exposure.

Sampling in ‘new areas’ and for new sources
There is still a need to gather information from areas where little is known about exposure levels, e.g., in central and eastern Russia and areas adjacent to the northern Pacific Ocean. Although food is the primary source of exposure to most POPs and metals, it is not the only source for human exposure to contaminants. There is a need to be aware of other sources related to local point sources and occupations and this may require local testing.

Sampling for ‘new contaminants’ and metabolites.
It is important to expand analytical capability in human tissues and especially blood to include ‘new substances’ recently found in or expected to be transported to the Arctic, where possible analyses should include polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), dioxins, (PCDDs) and furans (PCDFs) and halogenated phenolic compounds (HPCs). Several POPs metabolites are also worth measuring.