Tribal-university partnership to address tribal exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and improve community health

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon and other tribes in the United States may be at increased risk of disease due to cumulative PAH exposures from traditionally smoked foods, air exposure from traditional smoking of foods, and ambient air pollution. This community-based participatory research project with the Oregon State University Superfund Research Center seeks to better understand health risks associated with PAH exposure on the Umatilla Indian Reservation and to engage in capacity building with Tribal partners. The presentation reports on three aspects of the project: (1) A Tribal Advisory committee to provide guidance on ethical issues, approve IRB protocols and material and data sharing agreements, identify culturally appropriate interventions and evaluation metrics, and ensure that the project focuses on tribal needs; (2) Activities that build Tribal capacity in PAH research and examine Tribal-specific PAH exposure pathways, including training Tribal scientists to monitor PAHs on the Reservation as part of their air quality program, conducting personal air sampling during food smoking activities, analyzing PAHs in traditionally smoked food, and interpreting the resulting data; (3) Risk reduction approaches and outreach strategies that offer the best opportunity for improved health. This includes engaging the Tribes in defining health and well-being (identifying tribal health indicators and metrics of well-being) through community discussions, engaging the community in the design of culturally appropriate risk reduction and health promotion strategies, and developing effective means of outreach to their communities, to other tribal communities, to the Indian Health Service, and to regulators.