Grant: Doctoral: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Background: Generally it is suggested that climate change will cause increased precipitation, runoff, and hydrological extremes which will change the environmental conditions that we live in [1]. These ecological changes may increase the risk and incidence of infectious disease [2]. For example, heavy rainfall events and flooding events increase the risk of waterborne illnesses substantially [3]. Goals: The purpose of the study is to investigate associations among weather patterns, drinking water quality, and infectious gastrointestinal illness (IGI) outcomes in Inuit Nunaat (Inuit Regions of Canada). The goals are to (1) compare water quality variables with weather events and health clinic IGI records; (2) provide summary results in the form of educational material on weather-water-health relationships for residents; (3) provide formal evaluations of local clinic health registry systems; and (4) investigate the magnitude, distribution, and environmental risk factors of self-reported IGI in Labrador and Nunatsiavut. Expected Outcomes: - Quantitative understanding of environmental interactions that impact drinking water quality and waterborne illnesses - Development of Inuit community capacity to understand local weather-water-health relationships and to adapt to future challenges caused by climate change - Evaluation and formal report of health clinic registry to improve health delivery systems - Inform policy decisions and improve Inuit public health infrastructure - Development of educational media to communicate weather-water-health relationships to Inuit to reduce incidence of waterborne illnesses - Identification of IGI risk factors in Nunatsiavut compared to Labrador to prioritize interventions - Development of methodologies and tools that could extend globally References: (1) Houghton et al. 1995: Cambridge Univ. Press, NY. (2) Shope 1991: Environ Health Perspect 96, 171-174. (3) Thomas et al. 2006: Int J Environ Health Res 16, 167-180.