The researcher heading up a human-health study during the remediation of Giant Mine is seeking input from residents this week on the studySA国际影视传媒檚

Residents are invited to take part in a community consultation on the Health Effects Monitoring Program (HEMP), led by the University of OttawaSA国际影视传媒檚 Dr. Laurie Chan, at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre tomorrow night.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 very critical that we get everybodySA国际影视传媒檚 input,SA国际影视传媒� said Chan, a professor and Canada research chair in toxicology and environmental health. SA国际影视传媒淚 want to hear what people would like to see. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a dialogue, really.SA国际影视传媒�

The health study is meant to gather baseline information from residents in Yellowknife, Ndilo and Dettah about their exposure to arsenic and other contaminants amid the cleanup at Giant Mine.

Approximately 2,000 residents will be chosen to participate, according to a brochure on the study.

Approximately 1,500 residents will be chosen randomly to participate, Chan said.

Researchers will collect toenail, urine and saliva samples from participants to measure their contaminant levels, and will then ask people to complete a short questionnaire about how much fish they eat and their potential lifetime exposure to contaminants.

Chan said the researchers will also ask consent to look at participantsSA国际影视传媒� medical files so they can determine their exposure levels.

SA国际影视传媒淭he plan is to follow up, to repeat the study every five to 10 years to make sure the levels go down, hopefully, and arenSA国际影视传媒檛 going up,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The Yellowknife meeting is one of three taking place this week.

The research team will also meet with members of the North Slave Metis Alliance tonight and with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation in Dettah tomorrow morning.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is the final stage that we can fine-tune the design of the project,SA国际影视传媒� said Chan, who added residents will be chosen for the study this summer.

SA国际影视传媒淎t these meetings, I present the idea of the design and listen to peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 concerns,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd any suggestions of improvement.SA国际影视传媒�

According to a brochure on the study, it is being done with support from a number of groups: the GNWT, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, Health Canada, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, North Slave Metis Alliance, the Giant Mine Oversight Board and the City of Yellowknife.

Chan has been designing the study since last fall.

It is expected to roll out this September and will take place over the course of two years, he said.