Tribal LifeLine Project Modifying the Risk Assessment Model for Relevance to Unique Tribal Scenarios

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Tribal LifeLine ProjectModifying the Risk
Assessment Model for Relevance to Unique Tribal
Scenarios
A Project by The LifeLine Group Funded by US
EPA/OPPTS Presented by Christine F. Chaisson,
Ph.D.
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The LifeLine GroupAn Introduction

• Not-for-profit organization 501(c)(3) with
  mission to
• Develop technically excellent,relevant tools for
  characterizing chemical exposures to humans from
  their intimate and farfield environments, and
• Make those tools available to all interested
  parties (distributed free)
• Detailed aggregate/cumulative exposure and risk
  assessment software
• Screening or ranking assessments using a
  minimum of data to estimate exposure as compared
  to other chemicals being considered.
• PB/PK related models and physiological metrics

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What Weve Learned

• A Look at Alaskan Tribal CommunitiesLessons to
  Consider for Modeling Unique Communities and
  Exposure Scenarios

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Exposure Scenarios Relevant to Traditional Tribal
Lifestyles Different From Lifestyles Assumed in
Mainstream Exposure/Risk/Screening Models
HOME SITE/STYLE Seasonal Multiple sites
DIET commercial

• DIET
• traditional

DRINKING WATER Seasonal
TRADITIONAL THERAPIES
Art / Crafts Home Based
OCCUPATION
INSTITUTIONS School/work Seasonal
FAMILY ROLE
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Approach to Modeling Tribal Communities / Unique
Exposure Opportunities

• Developing Meaningful BioGeographical Areas

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Lifestyle and Environmental Conditions Define
Biogeographical Areas (BGAs) permits
customizing many different scenariostranscends
geopolitical boundaries
Northern Slope
Arctic Wet Tundra
Subarctic freshwater perimeter village
Northern Plains
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Farm gate or Port
Processing Industries
Seasonality, Age-related mix with commercial
foods, storage, preparation
Retail
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Modifications to Software to Date

• Each BGA site has its own modification package.
• Some data substitutions made, other data
  upgrading to take place when identified data are
  acquired.
• Subsistence dietary data can be blended with
  dietary data of the general US population.
  Age-dependent degree of blending can be chosen
  by the assessor100 traditional to 100
  commercial
• Entire community (or chosen fraction) can move to
  new sites during specified seasons each year.
  Housing, diet, water and activities change during
  the relocation period.
• Indoor air and outdoor ambient air concentrations
  added as sources of the aggregate exposure.
  Assessor specifies concentrations and durations

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Modifications to Software to Date

• Health-restricted activity related factors change
  for user-specified percentiles of age groups.
• Home parameters restricted to reflect HUD designs
  and temporary traditional lodges
• Sweat lodge environments added. Duration and
  frequency of sweat house use can be specified by
  the user on age-dependent basis.
• Changes in activity patterns to reflect living
  styles different than expressed in general
  population data sets (seasonally depended
  time outdoors, for example)

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Modifications Underway

• Detailed dietary intake profiles for ALL of
  Alaska.
• Art/craft/occupational activities such as basket
  weaving, pottery, carving, painting, leather and
  cloth working, dying.
• Food storage and preparation materials
• Waste burning and house-perimeter contaminant
  zones.
• Additional BGAs

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Important Points to Consider

• This is a TOOL relevant to US Legislative risk
  based regulation -- but does not inhibit
  conversation about other Tribal philosophies
• Project process accepts tribal traditions and
  attitudes
• Needs for training at the tribal level and at the
  federal level (application of relevant
  assumptions and analysis options)
• Model available to all- provides tool for tribes
  and their risk assessors / public health
  professionals
• Objective Making the tribal communities
  visible for risk-based decision
  makingincluding at the local level.

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Tribal LifeLine Project

• www.TheLifeLineGroup.org
• Dr. Christine Chaisson Dr. Claire Franklin
• (toll free)1- 877-978-6496 P 613 -225-0032
• P 703-978-6496 CAFranklin_at_TheLifeLineGro
  up.org
• F 703 978-6962
• CFChaisson_at_TheLifeLineGroup.org
• Elizabeth Resek Karen Rudek
• EPA Office of Science Coordination EPA Tribal
  Programs Coordinator and Policy Office of
  Water
• Office of Prevention, Pesticides and
  P 202 564-0472
• Toxic Substances F 202 564-0480
• P 202 564-8459
  Rudek.Karen_at_epa.gov
• F 202 564-8452
• Resek.Elizabeth_at_epa.gov