Current US government risk assessment and management regulations and policies are based on a position that views risk as an objective measure of a predictable physiological morbidity or mortality outcome that is not otherwise connected to social or cultural beliefs and values. Whereas human health risk assessments are meant to determine the probability of adverse impacts from particular hazards, the conventional risk assessment framework fails to consider Native American definitions of health and so risk. This study was conducted with the Coast Salish Swinomish Indian Tribal Community of Washington State, where contamination of their aquatic natural resources has been found. By conducting two series of interviews with traditional high-use seafood consumers, experts and elders from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, and by averting use of what I describe herein as ‘conventional’ fish consumption survey, the study allowed interviewees to provide a more complex narrative set of details and information that bestowed a much more accurate picture of the reasoning behind seafood consumption habits within the community. Among the more salient points that emerged from the interviews was that seafood represents a symbolic, deeply meaningful food source that is linked to a multi-dimensional ‘Swinomish’ concept of health. Yet drastic changes in access, harvest and consumption have occurred over time, and continue to this day. A health evaluation tool was also devised using simple descriptive scaled rankings to elucidate non-physiological health risks and impacts in relation to contaminated seafood. Findings demonstrate that community cohesion, food security, ceremonial use and knowledge transmission all play primary roles as concerns the Swinomish notions of health, and that these indicators are regarded as equally important when juxtaposed to physical indicators of health. Thus, to eat less seafood—as prescribed by current policy and decision-making procedures when contamination is present—is actually detrimental to the multi-dimensional concept of health as defined by the Swinomish. The evaluation tool may be used in conjunction with the conventional risk assessment framework to more accurately and comprehensively deduce risks and impacts.

Current US government risk assessment and management regulations and policies are based on a position that views risk as an objective measure of a predictable physiological morbidity or mortality outcome that is not otherwise connected to social or cultural beliefs and values. Whereas human health risk assessments are meant to determine the probability of adverse impacts from particular hazards, the conventional risk assessment framework fails to consider Native American definitions of health and so risk. This study was conducted with the Coast Salish Swinomish Indian Tribal Community of Washington State, where contamination of their aquatic natural resources has been found. By conducting two series of interviews with traditional high-use seafood consumers, experts and elders from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, and by averting use of what I describe herein as ‘conventional’ fish consumption survey, the study allowed interviewees to provide a more complex narrative set of details and information that bestowed a much more accurate picture of the reasoning behind seafood consumption habits within the community. Among the more salient points that emerged from the interviews was that seafood represents a symbolic, deeply meaningful food source that is linked to a multi-dimensional ‘Swinomish’ concept of health. Yet drastic changes in access, harvest and consumption have occurred over time, and continue to this day. A health evaluation tool was also devised using simple descriptive scaled rankings to elucidate non-physiological health risks and impacts in relation to contaminated seafood. Findings demonstrate that community cohesion, food security, ceremonial use and knowledge transmission all play primary roles as concerns the Swinomish notions of health, and that these indicators are regarded as equally important when juxtaposed to physical indicators of health. Thus, to eat less seafood—as prescribed by current policy and decision-making procedures when contamination is present—is actually detrimental to the multi-dimensional concept of health as defined by the Swinomish. The evaluation tool may be used in conjunction with the conventional risk assessment framework to more accurately and comprehensively deduce risks and impacts.

Current US government risk assessment and management regulations and policies are based on a position that views risk as an objective measure of a predictable physiological morbidity or mortality outcome that is not otherwise connected to social or cultural beliefs and values. Whereas human health risk assessments are meant to determine the probability of adverse impacts from particular hazards, the conventional risk assessment framework fails to consider Native American definitions of health and so risk. This study was conducted with the Coast Salish Swinomish Indian Tribal Community of Washington State, where contamination of their aquatic natural resources has been found. By conducting two series of interviews with traditional high-use seafood consumers, experts and elders from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, and by averting use of what I describe herein as ‘conventional’ fish consumption survey, the study allowed interviewees to provide a more complex narrative set of details and information that bestowed a much more accurate picture of the reasoning behind seafood consumption habits within the community. Among the more salient points that emerged from the interviews was that seafood represents a symbolic, deeply meaningful food source that is linked to a multi-dimensional ‘Swinomish’ concept of health. Yet drastic changes in access, harvest and consumption have occurred over time, and continue to this day. A health evaluation tool was also devised using simple descriptive scaled rankings to elucidate non-physiological health risks and impacts in relation to contaminated seafood. Findings demonstrate that community cohesion, food security, ceremonial use and knowledge transmission all play primary roles as concerns the Swinomish notions of health, and that these indicators are regarded as equally important when juxtaposed to physical indicators of health. Thus, to eat less seafood—as prescribed by current policy and decision-making procedures when contamination is present—is actually detrimental to the multi-dimensional concept of health as defined by the Swinomish. The evaluation tool may be used in conjunction with the conventional risk assessment framework to more accurately and comprehensively deduce risks and impacts. / Science, Faculty of / Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), Institute for / Graduate

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Neurodegenerative diseases have been shown to correlate positively with an ageing population. The most common neurodegenerative diseases are amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The cause of these diseases is believed to be the interaction between genetic and environmental factors, synergistically acting with ageing. BMAA (β-methylamino-L-alanine) is one kind of toxin present in our environment and might play an important role in the development of those diseases. BMAA was initially isolated from cycad seeds in Guam, where the incidence of ALS/Parkinsonism-dementia complex among the indigenous people was 50 – 100 times higher than the rest of the world in the 1950’s. BMAA can induce toxic effects on rodents and primates. Furthermore, it can potentiate neuronal injury on cell cultures at concentrations as low as 10 µM. BMAA was reported to be produced by cyanobacteria, and could bio-magnify through the food chain. In this thesis, work was initially focused on the improvement of an existing analytical method for BMAA identification and quantification using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.  Subsequently, the refined method was applied to environmental samples for probing alternative BMAA producer(s) in nature and to seafood samples for estimation of human exposure to this toxin. In Paper I, a systematic screening of the isomers of BMAA in a database was performed and seven potential isomers were suggested. Three of them were detected or suspected in natural samples. In Paper II, a deuterated internal standard was synthesized and used for quantifying BMAA in cyanobacteria. In Paper III, Diatoms were discovered to be a BMAA producer in nature. In Paper IV, ten popular species of seafood sold in Swedish markets were screened for BMAA. Half of them were found to contain BMAA at a level of 0.01 – 0.90 µg/g wet weight. In Future perspectives, the remaining questions important in this field are raised.

As concentrações médias (mg/kg) de Cobre (Cu) e Zinco (Zn) foram determinadas em amostras de água e sedimento coletadas no rio Apucaraninha no inverno de 2015 e no verão de 2016 em pontos a montante da Terra Indígena Apucarana (Tamara – PR), em função do uso e ocupação do solo potencialmente poluidores do rio no âmbito do território mencionado. Foram determinadas também as concentrações médias de Cu e Zn nas espécies Astyanaxaltiparanae, OligosarcusparanensiseGeophagus brasiliensis coletadas junto à comunidade indígena, conforme suas próprias rotinas de pesca. Foram analisadas as variações das concentrações de Cu e Zn nos sedimentos nos diferentes pontos de amostragem. Na espécie A. altiparanae foram analisadas as variações nas concentrações de Cu e Zn entre diferentes classes de tamanho e entre os anos de coleta (2013, 2015 e 2016). As concentrações de Cu nas amostras de água e nos peixes estiveram abaixo do limite de detecção da técnica de análise. No sedimento, as concentrações de Cu estiveram acima do níveldo nível abaixo do qual se prevê baixa probabilidade de efeitos adversos à biota estabelecido por Resolução do Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente (CONAMA) nº 344 de 2004, enquanto às de Zn se revelaram inferiores a mesma Resolução. Houve variação significativa entre os pontos de amostragem. As três espécies de peixes analisadas apresentaram concentrações de Zn acima do limite permissível para peixes e produtos de pesca segundo a Portaria nº 685 de 1998 da Secretária de Vigilância Sanitária do Ministério da Saúde (BRASIL, 1998). Houve variações significativas nas concentrações entre diferentes classes de tamanho da espécie A. altiparanae, bem como decréscimo acentuado entre os anos de 2013 e 2016, o qual pode estar relacionado com o esvaziamento do reservatório em 2014, que influenciou os níveis desse elemento traço no material sedimentado e, dessa forma, na sua biodisponibilidade para a biota. A despeito do Cu e Zn serem metaismicroessenciais, ambos estão presentes nesse recurso hídrico em níveis que despertam a atenção quanto aograu de contaminaçãoambiental desse meio. Na localidade estudada essa exposição é preocupante, pois os peixes compõem a rotina alimentar da comunidade indígena, uma vez que a prática da pesca é muito comum entre as famílias, sendo parte essencial da sua cultura e subsistência. / Average concentrations (mg/kg) of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were determined in water and sediment samples collected in Apucaraninha river in winter 2015 and summer 2016 at downstream sites of Indigenous Land Apucarana (Tamara - PR), depending on the potentially polluting use and occupation of the basin in the mentioned territory. They also determined the average concentrations in the species Astyanaxaltiparanae, Oligosarcusparanaense and Geophagusbrasiliensis collected by the indigenous community from their fishing routines. The variations between the concentrations of Cu and Zn were analyzed in the sediment at different sites. Variations in the concentrations of Cu and Zn were analyzed in the species A. altiparanaeamong different size classes and the sampling years (2013,2015 and 2016).The concentration of Cu in the samples of water and fish were below the detection limit of the analytical technique. In the sediment, the Cu concentrations were above the level, while the Zn proved lower level below which provides low probability of adverse effects to biota established by Resolution of the National Environmental Council (CONAMA), revealing significant variation between sampling sites. The three species of fish analyzed showed Zn concentrations above the allowable limit for fish and fishery products according to Ordinance No. 685 of 1998 of the Secretary of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health. There were significant variations in concentrations among different size classes of A. altiparanae and decrease along of the years 2013 to 2016, which may be related to the emptying of the reservoir in 2014, which influenced the levels of this trace element in the material sedimented. Despite the Cu and Zn are micronutrients trace metals, both are present in this hydric resources at levels that attract the attention by the degree of environmental contamination of the basin. In the studied locality this exposure is worrisome because fish make up the feeding routine of the indigenous community, since the practice of fishing is very common among families, being an essentntl component of their culture and livelihood.

A crescente poluição ambiental nas últimas décadas vem tornando os metais tóxicos uma ameaça constante aos seres vivos. Entre estes, o chumbo é um dos mais importantes, devido à quantidade de áreas contaminadas e seus efeitos deletérios para saúde humana. Determinadas espécies de pescado representam valiosos aliados na nutrição humana e, por serem considerados um importante recurso proteico e fazerem parte da composição alimentar humana, os peixes representam uma das principais fontes de ingestão de metais para o homem via cadeia alimentar. Estudos prévios identificaram a presença de chumbo em concentrações acima do nível permitido pela legislação em diversos pontos ao longo do Ribeirão Cambé, na cidade de Londrina/PR. Devido à importância do Lago Igapó para a população local para a prática de atividades de pesca e recreação, o presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar o potencial de contaminação por chumbo que esta população que utiliza o pescado proveniente do local para consumo pode, eventualmente, estar sendo exposta. Com a finalidade de avaliar aspectos socioeconômicos, hábitos de pesca, analisar quantitativa e qualitativa do produto de pesca, foram aplicados questionários com os praticantes de pesca amadora no Lago Igapó e realizada a biometria e identificação das espécies capturadas pelos entrevistados. A análise dos dados mostrou que 59% dos entrevistados praticavam a pesca de subsistência, visando exclusivamente o consumo do pescado. Além disso, 15% dos pescadores revelaram fazer a pesca recreativa e, eventualmente, o consumo do produto da pesca. A frequência de consumo de peixe entre os entrevistados também foi alta (2,35 dias/ semana), sendo este consumo de origem praticamente exclusiva do Lago Igapó (2,20 dias/ semana). Dentre as espécies identificadas, Tilapia rendalli foi consideravelmente mais abundante (quase 90% dos exemplares), o que mostra que esta espécie é uma das mais consumidas pelos pescadores locais. Esse dado é preocupante visto que estudos prévios realizados no Lago Igapó mostraram concentração de chumbo cerca de 13 vezes acima do limite permitido pela legislação nessa espécie. Os resultados refletem a importância do produto da pesca proveniente do Lago Igapó como fonte de proteína na alimentação dos pescadores e sua família e confirma a preocupação relativa à eventual exposição da população à contaminação por chumbo. / Increasing environmental pollution in recent decades has made toxic metals a constant threat to living creatures. Lead is among the most important ones due to contaminated areas extension and its deleterious effect on human health. Certain fish species are very important to human nutrition because they are considered a major protein source and are part of human food composition. Fish represent one of the main sources of metal intake for humans in the food chain. Previous studies have identified lead presence in concentrations above the maximum level admitted by the legislation at several points along the Ribeirão Cambé, in the city of Londrina / PR Brazil. As Lake Igapo is important to the local population for fishing and recreation activities, the present study aims to analyze the potential lead contamination that this population could be exposed when fishing and consuming fishes from the lake. A questionnaire was designed to evaluate socioeconomic aspects and fishing habits, a quantitative and qualitative analysis was done. Amateur fishermen of Lago Igapó answered the questionnaire, and biometrics and identification of the specimens captured by the interviewees were carried out. Data shows that 59% of the interviewees practice subsistence fishing, oriented to fish consumption exclusively. In addition, 15% of fishermen have revealed that they are engaged in recreational fishing and consume the fishery product occasionally. Interviewees fish consumption frequency is high (2.35 days / week), and this consumption is primarily from Lago Igapó (2.20 days / week). Tilapia rendalli is considerably more abundant (almost 90% of the specimens) among the species identified; it shows that this species is one of the most consumed by local fishermen. This data is worrisome once previous studies showed a lead concentration around thirteen times the limit allowed by the legislation for this species. The result reflects the importance of the fishery product from Lake Igapó as a source of protein in the diet of fishermen and their families and confirms the concern regarding the possible exposure of the population to lead contamination.

As concentrações médias (mg/kg) de Cobre (Cu) e Zinco (Zn) foram determinadas em amostras de água e sedimento coletadas no rio Apucaraninha no inverno de 2015 e no verão de 2016 em pontos a montante da Terra Indígena Apucarana (Tamara – PR), em função do uso e ocupação do solo potencialmente poluidores do rio no âmbito do território mencionado. Foram determinadas também as concentrações médias de Cu e Zn nas espécies Astyanaxaltiparanae, OligosarcusparanensiseGeophagus brasiliensis coletadas junto à comunidade indígena, conforme suas próprias rotinas de pesca. Foram analisadas as variações das concentrações de Cu e Zn nos sedimentos nos diferentes pontos de amostragem. Na espécie A. altiparanae foram analisadas as variações nas concentrações de Cu e Zn entre diferentes classes de tamanho e entre os anos de coleta (2013, 2015 e 2016). As concentrações de Cu nas amostras de água e nos peixes estiveram abaixo do limite de detecção da técnica de análise. No sedimento, as concentrações de Cu estiveram acima do níveldo nível abaixo do qual se prevê baixa probabilidade de efeitos adversos à biota estabelecido por Resolução do Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente (CONAMA) nº 344 de 2004, enquanto às de Zn se revelaram inferiores a mesma Resolução. Houve variação significativa entre os pontos de amostragem. As três espécies de peixes analisadas apresentaram concentrações de Zn acima do limite permissível para peixes e produtos de pesca segundo a Portaria nº 685 de 1998 da Secretária de Vigilância Sanitária do Ministério da Saúde (BRASIL, 1998). Houve variações significativas nas concentrações entre diferentes classes de tamanho da espécie A. altiparanae, bem como decréscimo acentuado entre os anos de 2013 e 2016, o qual pode estar relacionado com o esvaziamento do reservatório em 2014, que influenciou os níveis desse elemento traço no material sedimentado e, dessa forma, na sua biodisponibilidade para a biota. A despeito do Cu e Zn serem metaismicroessenciais, ambos estão presentes nesse recurso hídrico em níveis que despertam a atenção quanto aograu de contaminaçãoambiental desse meio. Na localidade estudada essa exposição é preocupante, pois os peixes compõem a rotina alimentar da comunidade indígena, uma vez que a prática da pesca é muito comum entre as famílias, sendo parte essencial da sua cultura e subsistência. / Average concentrations (mg/kg) of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were determined in water and sediment samples collected in Apucaraninha river in winter 2015 and summer 2016 at downstream sites of Indigenous Land Apucarana (Tamara - PR), depending on the potentially polluting use and occupation of the basin in the mentioned territory. They also determined the average concentrations in the species Astyanaxaltiparanae, Oligosarcusparanaense and Geophagusbrasiliensis collected by the indigenous community from their fishing routines. The variations between the concentrations of Cu and Zn were analyzed in the sediment at different sites. Variations in the concentrations of Cu and Zn were analyzed in the species A. altiparanaeamong different size classes and the sampling years (2013,2015 and 2016).The concentration of Cu in the samples of water and fish were below the detection limit of the analytical technique. In the sediment, the Cu concentrations were above the level, while the Zn proved lower level below which provides low probability of adverse effects to biota established by Resolution of the National Environmental Council (CONAMA), revealing significant variation between sampling sites. The three species of fish analyzed showed Zn concentrations above the allowable limit for fish and fishery products according to Ordinance No. 685 of 1998 of the Secretary of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health. There were significant variations in concentrations among different size classes of A. altiparanae and decrease along of the years 2013 to 2016, which may be related to the emptying of the reservoir in 2014, which influenced the levels of this trace element in the material sedimented. Despite the Cu and Zn are micronutrients trace metals, both are present in this hydric resources at levels that attract the attention by the degree of environmental contamination of the basin. In the studied locality this exposure is worrisome because fish make up the feeding routine of the indigenous community, since the practice of fishing is very common among families, being an essentntl component of their culture and livelihood.

A crescente poluição ambiental nas últimas décadas vem tornando os metais tóxicos uma ameaça constante aos seres vivos. Entre estes, o chumbo é um dos mais importantes, devido à quantidade de áreas contaminadas e seus efeitos deletérios para saúde humana. Determinadas espécies de pescado representam valiosos aliados na nutrição humana e, por serem considerados um importante recurso proteico e fazerem parte da composição alimentar humana, os peixes representam uma das principais fontes de ingestão de metais para o homem via cadeia alimentar. Estudos prévios identificaram a presença de chumbo em concentrações acima do nível permitido pela legislação em diversos pontos ao longo do Ribeirão Cambé, na cidade de Londrina/PR. Devido à importância do Lago Igapó para a população local para a prática de atividades de pesca e recreação, o presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar o potencial de contaminação por chumbo que esta população que utiliza o pescado proveniente do local para consumo pode, eventualmente, estar sendo exposta. Com a finalidade de avaliar aspectos socioeconômicos, hábitos de pesca, analisar quantitativa e qualitativa do produto de pesca, foram aplicados questionários com os praticantes de pesca amadora no Lago Igapó e realizada a biometria e identificação das espécies capturadas pelos entrevistados. A análise dos dados mostrou que 59% dos entrevistados praticavam a pesca de subsistência, visando exclusivamente o consumo do pescado. Além disso, 15% dos pescadores revelaram fazer a pesca recreativa e, eventualmente, o consumo do produto da pesca. A frequência de consumo de peixe entre os entrevistados também foi alta (2,35 dias/ semana), sendo este consumo de origem praticamente exclusiva do Lago Igapó (2,20 dias/ semana). Dentre as espécies identificadas, Tilapia rendalli foi consideravelmente mais abundante (quase 90% dos exemplares), o que mostra que esta espécie é uma das mais consumidas pelos pescadores locais. Esse dado é preocupante visto que estudos prévios realizados no Lago Igapó mostraram concentração de chumbo cerca de 13 vezes acima do limite permitido pela legislação nessa espécie. Os resultados refletem a importância do produto da pesca proveniente do Lago Igapó como fonte de proteína na alimentação dos pescadores e sua família e confirma a preocupação relativa à eventual exposição da população à contaminação por chumbo. / Increasing environmental pollution in recent decades has made toxic metals a constant threat to living creatures. Lead is among the most important ones due to contaminated areas extension and its deleterious effect on human health. Certain fish species are very important to human nutrition because they are considered a major protein source and are part of human food composition. Fish represent one of the main sources of metal intake for humans in the food chain. Previous studies have identified lead presence in concentrations above the maximum level admitted by the legislation at several points along the Ribeirão Cambé, in the city of Londrina / PR Brazil. As Lake Igapo is important to the local population for fishing and recreation activities, the present study aims to analyze the potential lead contamination that this population could be exposed when fishing and consuming fishes from the lake. A questionnaire was designed to evaluate socioeconomic aspects and fishing habits, a quantitative and qualitative analysis was done. Amateur fishermen of Lago Igapó answered the questionnaire, and biometrics and identification of the specimens captured by the interviewees were carried out. Data shows that 59% of the interviewees practice subsistence fishing, oriented to fish consumption exclusively. In addition, 15% of fishermen have revealed that they are engaged in recreational fishing and consume the fishery product occasionally. Interviewees fish consumption frequency is high (2.35 days / week), and this consumption is primarily from Lago Igapó (2.20 days / week). Tilapia rendalli is considerably more abundant (almost 90% of the specimens) among the species identified; it shows that this species is one of the most consumed by local fishermen. This data is worrisome once previous studies showed a lead concentration around thirteen times the limit allowed by the legislation for this species. The result reflects the importance of the fishery product from Lake Igapó as a source of protein in the diet of fishermen and their families and confirms the concern regarding the possible exposure of the population to lead contamination.

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management