STEPHANIE POWELL
University of Northern British Columbia, International Studies Program
The Canadian Arctic has become a repository for the world's highly toxic chemicals. The long-range transport of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has resulted in an accumulation in the Canadian Arctic suggesting harmful consequences for human health and the environment. Increasing levels of POPs throughout the Arctic environment have resulted in concerted regional, national and international efforts to reduce and eventually eliminate their production, use and emission. Recent studies have confirmed that POPs are present in Arctic environments, including Canada’s northern regions, where they have either never been used or have been long since banned. POPs are transported to the Arctic environment via atmospheric processes and ocean currents, where they persist and accumulate in the food chain. As Aboriginal populations are dependent on many of the species higher up in the food chain for their dietary consumption needs, these individuals have become particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of POPs. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants will protect human health and the environment in the Canadian Arctic.
Equipment Required:
Power Point Presentation
Outcomes and Transferability:
This presentation will outline the problem of POPs in the Canadian Arctic and how the international environmental agreement – Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, will address the problems associated with POPs and the health and well-being of Inuit populations in the Canadian North.