The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium has a Cord Blood Monitoring Program that provides information to families on their exposures to environmental pollutants. This program has been developed as part of the US efforts under the eight-nation Arctic Council endeavor of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme. It is supported by several Federal agencies as well as local Alaska Native health authorities. Linking maternal and child health concerns with environmental exposures to contaminants has required new approaches in the collection of information. Due to the potential for increased effects, fetal exposures were selected for monitoring, including the documentation of the success of carrying the pregnancy to term. As many environmental contaminants of concern can accumulate in the body over time and from a variety of sources, the prenatal history is linked to a dietary survey that has been specifically designed to collect temporal use of local foods as well as include information on water handling. Infants are also being followed during their first year of life to assess major infectious events that may substantiate assessments of immune system strength. Environmental contaminant monitoring programs must link to health effects and outcomes as well as be actively communicated to participants.
Learning Objectives: 1.Recognize five reasons for increased concerns on enviornmental exposures to the fetus and infant. 2.Articulate the rational behind linking maternal and child health programs with enviornmental monitoring efforts. 3. List three sampling concerns that address the sources of contaminants. 4. List three sampling concerns faced during the prenatal and early childhood time period
Keywords: Maternal and Child Health, Environmental Exposures
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.