Gender-Specific chemical exposure in arctic communities

Abstract This review explores the challenges Arctic populations face regarding contaminant exposure and its intricate relationship with traditional diets. Particular attention is given to the unique situation of northern women, whose dietary habits influence their exposure to these contaminants. Despite the recent and rapid dietary shift towards a more “westernized” diet, traditional foods remain a cornerstone of Arctic communities’ sustenance. However, the consumption of such foods, particularly marine mammals, has been consistently associated to elevated levels of lipophilic contaminants including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and trace elements. Notable gendered differences emerge in dietary patterns, with northern women reportedly consuming fewer traditional products, thereby reducing their contaminant exposure. Additionally, women of childbearing age benefit from unique elimination pathways––through pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menstruation––that men lack. This combination of lower traditional food intake and the existence of gender-specific elimination routes has resulted in a lower contaminant burden in women compared to men. For instance, blood concentrations of organic contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and trace elements like lead, are on average 20 to 40% lower in women. Nevertheless, these lower contaminant levels do not necessarily imply reduced health risks, as women’s susceptibility to these substances may differ markedly from that of men.