Persistent toxic substances (PTS), reproductive health and pregnancy outcome in Northern Norway

A number of persistent toxic substances (PTS) are recognised as being responsible for adverse development and health effect in children. The growing foetus and new born child are especially sensitive to the toxic effects of many persistent heavy metals an d organic pollutants found in the environment, that may exert its toxicity for decades because of resistance to degradation. Several of these substances move from mother to foetus via the umbilical cord and to the child via mother?s breast milk. The level s of these contaminants in maternal blood during pregnancy give an indication of the potential risk to the developing foetus. Several of multidisciplinary international projects are in progress that study levels of PTS in people of different geographical regions to establish the relationship between levels of these chemicals and health. The most important is the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP). Norwegian information points out the possibility of high levels of mercury and organic contami nants in humans with a high dietary intake of fish. After the first AMAP-report (1998) this project has been developed from a pure monitoring program to a comprehensive research project focusing on sources, as well as epidemiological and molecular effect studies on reproductive effects and pregnancy outcomes. Nordland and Finnmark have coastal populations with relatively high fish intake in the diet. There is a concern for increasing concentrations of both traditional contaminants, their metabolites, and the new groups of contaminants, like the brominated flame retardants. Nordland and Finnmark counties have groups of indigenous (Sami) populations with special dietary patterns (reindeer meats, natural food items), very vulnerable to contaminants. Some inf ormation from diet, biota and animal studies exist, but only fragmentary information about human levels and nothing about potential human reproductive effects and impact on child health.