Contaminant Exposures in Indigenous Communities: Tribal Research Avenues and Health Effects

摘要

Intro American Indians were stripped of traditional tobacco upon first contact with settlers, forcing them to use commercial tobacco for sacred ceremonies. Colonization and exploitation of American Indians by tobacco companies contribute to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's (CRST) 51% smoking rate. Methods To reduce secondhand smoke exposure in indoor public places on CRST, the Canli Coalition began advocating for a tribal smoke-free air law in 2009. By 2012, 76% of tribal members supported smoke-free air in public. In 2015, the CRST became the third tribe in America to pass a comprehensive smoke-free air policy. Evidence supporting such policies will pave the way for more smoke-free policies in Indigenous territories. The CRST Mercury in the Water Study sought to find exposures to metals through fishing, smoking and land use pathways. Commercial tobacco contributes to heavy metal exposure and poor health outcomes through metal toxicants. Tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure was collected using a survey and cotinine levels confirmed nicotine exposure. 225 adult CRST members participated from 2014-2016 (75 per year). This analysis focuses on tobacco exposure changes after the 2015 CRST Ordinance 77 was passed. Results The year following Ordinance 77, the rate of smokers with high cotinine levels (> 15 ng/ml serum cotinine concentration) was reduced from 83% to 40%. Non-smokers with high cotinine levels reduced from 18% to 13% in the year following policy adoption. The number of cigarettes smoked among current smokers did not change significantly. However, participants with intermediate cotinine levels increased in 2016 for smokers and non-smokers. Detailed home and indoor sampling for nicotine surface deposition and toxicant exposure can be included in future Tribal research agendas to accurately depict the impact of smoke-free air policies in Indigenous communities.