Little is known about the outdoor activities of older people in the Nordic Arctic region, who face long and snowy winters, long distances, underdeveloped transportation and limited community facilities. Addressing the lack of region-specific evidence on outdoor mobility for promoting healthy and independent ageing in Arctic environments, this study aims to examine self-reported barriers and enablers of outdoor mobility among adults aged 70 years or older living in Iceland and northern parts of Finland and Sweden. A cross-sectional postal questionnaire focusing on outdoor mobility and environment was circulated in 2024 and collected 811 responses, a 41

Climate change is resulting in increased and more complex and integrated environmental challenges. The Arctic regions are warming faster than other parts of the globe and affecting Indigenous and other communities. Food safety and human health are critical factors globally. These issues are examined with presentations of action strategies and the sustainability factors for these issues are analyzed. To bring together these issues in terms of actions and policy responses, addressing climate change in Newfoundland and Labrador actions are examined. The social and policy dimensions of communities’ actions to adapt to reduce the impacts of climate change bring together these issues to enable building climate resilient communities. The emerging environmental challenges and global collaborations to address climate change are an overall framework for analysis. Through the PEOPLE Network and other organizations there have been increases in addressing climate and the environmental issues.

This proceedings paper summarizes the first network meeting in the project Strengthening Networks in Arctic Health Research and Education through Mentorship and Collaboration, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 26-28 May 2024. The meeting brought together 31 participants from across the Arctic, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers, students, and health professionals. The aim was to enhance collaboration among circumpolar health networks and to develop a mentorship program supporting young scholars. Sessions included mapping exercises, regional health updates, and discussions on ethics, education, collaboration, and community engagement. Participants identified overlapping mandates, gaps in coordination, and opportunities for joint initiatives across different health networks and societies. The meeting emphasized inclusive, community-based approaches and the integration of Indigenous knowledge. Action items for the coming years include developing and evaluating a model for mentorship in circumpolar health research, enhancing ethical research practices, and continuing the work and conversation of coordinating efforts across health networks. The workshop was concluded with a strong sense of shared purpose and commitment to advancing health and well-being in Arctic communities through strengthened collaborative in both research and education.

AIM:Adverse human-driven environmental change, including the climate, is having an increasing impact on the Arctic environment and its ecosystems. There has been immense interest in understanding the health risks related to climate change in the Arctic region. In this article, we review recent evidence related to climate change and its impacts on the health of the Arctic population. METHODS:We summarize current evidence related to primary, secondary and tertiary health effects in the Arctic. We explore a broad range of effects on health including increased exposure to extreme weather, impacts from changes in water quality, air quality, contaminant exposure, food systems and patterns of infectious diseases. We also briefly discuss mental health effects in the Arctic. We conclude by examining further challenges and opportunities for research in this field and advocate the need for adaptation options in the Arctic. RESULTS:We find that there is a large amount of literature that is focusing on the human health effects in the Arctic but there are still research gaps in terms of understanding these compared with those at lower latitudes. We point out the need for filling several of these knowledge gaps to project future health effects of climate change in the Arctic. CONCLUSIONS:There is a need for integrated adaptation strategies in the Arctic that fully account for the health impacts and consider indigenous perspectives.

Limited knowledge exists on persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), in mother-child pairs from Northern Finland. This study examines plasma PCB and OCP concentrations and their determinants. Blood plasma concentrations of 13 PCBs and 6 OCPs were measured in mothers and in cord samples from the NUGEN birth cohort (N = 102, 2012-2014). Correlations between maternal and cord POPs were assessed using Spearman correlation, and linear regression identified factors influencing lipid-adjusted POPs. Maternal age and alcohol consumption during pregnancy were positively associated with PCBs and OCPs. Pre-pregnancy BMI and weight change during pregnancy were inversely associated with PCBs, but positively with p,p'-DDE in children. Increasing parity and smoking were associated with lower PCBs. Maternal fish consumption was associated with higher PCBs in children. Finnish pregnant women had lower PCBs and OCPs than other European populations. These findings inform exposure risk assessment and prevention strategies.

Permafrost thaw poses diverse risks to Arctic environments and livelihoods. Understanding the effects of permafrost thaw is vital for informed policymaking and adaptation efforts. Here, we present the consolidated findings of a risk analysis spanning four study regions: Longyearbyen (Svalbard, Norway), the Avannaata municipality (Greenland), the Beaufort Sea region and the Mackenzie River Delta (Canada) and the Bulunskiy District of the Sakha Republic (Russia). Local stakeholders’ and scientists’ perceptions shaped our understanding of the risks as dynamic, socionatural phenomena involving physical processes, key hazards, and societal consequences. Through an inter- and transdisciplinary risk analysis based on multidirectional knowledge exchanges and thematic network analysis, we identified five key hazards of permafrost thaw. These include infrastructure failure, disruption of mobility and supplies, decreased water quality, challenges for food security, and exposure to diseases and contaminants. The study’s novelty resides in the comparative approach spanning different disciplines, environmental and societal contexts, and the transdisciplinary synthesis considering various risk perceptions. In the Arctic, the risks of the permafrost thaw are perceived differently by communities, and key hazards include infrastructure failure, mobility disruption, decreased water quality and food security, and exposure to diseases, according to a transdisciplinary analysis based on workshops and a thematic network approach.

The risk of zoonotic disease transmission from animals to humans is elevated for people in close contact with domestic and wild animals. About three-quarters of all known human infectious diseases are zoonotic, and potential health impacts of these diseases are higher where infectious disease surveillance and access to health care and public health services are limited. This is especially the case for remote circumarctic regions, where drivers for endemic, emerging, and re-emerging zoonotic diseases include anthropogenic influences, such as pollution by long-range transport of industrial chemicals, climate change, loss of biodiversity and ecosystem alterations. In addition to these, indirect effects including natural changes in food web dynamics, appearance of invasive species, thawing permafrost also affect the risk of zoonotic disease spill-over. In other words, the Arctic represents a changing world where pollution, loss of biodiversity and habitat, and maritime activity are likely driving forward occurrence of infectious diseases. As a broad international consortium with a wide range of expertise, we here describe a selection of case studies highlighting the importance of a One Health approach to zoonoses in the circumarctic, encompassing human health, animal health, and environmental health aspects. The cases highlight critical gaps in monitoring and current knowledge, focusing on environmental stressors and lifestyle factors, and they are examples of current occurrences in the Arctic that inform on critically needed actions to prepare us for the future. Through these presentations, we recommend measures to enhance awareness and management of existing and emerging zoonoses with epidemic and pandemic potential while also focusing on the impacts of various environmental stressors and lifestyle factors on zoonoses in the Arctic.

This paper presents the results of a multidisciplinary study with the aim of assessing the potential combined risk from consuming locally harvested food products in the Euro-Arctic region of Norway, Finland, and Russia. The three important contaminant groups—radioactive substances, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs)—were measured in food samples such as berries, mushrooms, fish, birds, reindeer, and moose; they were sampled in 2013–2015. To assess the combined pollution levels and investigate the trends, similarities, and variations between different contaminant groups, subsequent multivariate statistical analysis was performed. The results showed that, in general, the levels of radioactive substances, toxic elements, and POPs were below the permitted EU maximum content in food products. However, statistical analysis revealed some correlations, similarities, and peculiarities between the accumulation of different contaminants in various species, which allowed for a better understanding of the mechanisms of accumulation and interaction between different contaminant groups. It also gave a better insight into the possible added risks and helped pinpoint species that could serve as reference markers for the accumulation of different contaminants in food. Mushrooms, fish, and reindeer were found to be important markers in the combined risk assessments for the contents of metals and radioactive substances. Further research, as well as the development of methodologies for combined assessments, are recommended.

In Finland, national and local restrictions were implemented to control the COVID-19 pandemic after the increase of cases, and it changed the everyday life of people. The purpose of our study was to explore public health communication and compliance related to the COVID-19 public health instructions, recommendations, and restrictions in two municipalities in Northernmost Finland, Inari and Utsjoki. We interviewed the representatives and operators working in the municipalities to understand and learn about their experiences. Results suggested that residents complied with different COVID-19 actions, and overall, communication was found to be good. Altogether, guidelines were easy to follow but required the individual’s own activity. Guidelines were also published in Sámi language. National border restrictions were a challenging part of communication and information, and guidelines were found to be contradictory at times. National border actions required resources from the municipalities, e.g. testing, which caused more demands on municipalities operating with already low resources. In the future, it is essential to consider the local situation of the pandemic and harmonise actions and put effort on local cooperation. It is important to invest in clear communication, which reaches people of all ages, and in three Sámi languages.

Abstract The full text of this preprint has been withdrawn by the authors as it was submitted and made public without the full consent of all the authors. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as a reference. Questions should be directed to the corresponding author.

Introduction: Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) monitors persistent organic pollutant (POP) levels in the Arctic populations and assesses health effects related to exposure to them. Many internationally regulated POPs persist in humans and biota, while new Emerging Contaminants of Arctic Concern (ECAC), many of which are unregulated, present additional challenges. Biomonitoring offers valuable insights into temporal trends within human matrices, revealing critical information not only about the efficacy of international regulations but also serving as an early warning system for exposure and risks for human health. Methods: Data analyzed in this study is aggregated data presented in the AMAP Human Health in the Arctic assessments, which provide data on contaminant concentrations measured in human matrices from adults, and children across various population studies conducted in the Arctic since the 1980 s. Linear regression analyses were used to assess trends of various POPs including organochlorine (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), measured over time from the Arctic populations in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Canada and Alaska (USA). Results: Overall, decreasing trends were observed for PCBs and OCPs. Regulated PFAS showed decreasing trends, but increasing trends were observed for unregulated PFAS in certain populations. PBDEs showed decreasing or inconsistent trends in certain Arctic populations. Conclusions: Decreasing trends are observed for legacy POPs, but the trends for new emerging contaminants are inconsistent. More focus is needed on biomonitoring the new emerging contaminants of concern in the Arctic and their implications on human health.

The aim of this project is to explore perceptions towards and adherence to COVID-19 public health preventive measures in Indigenous communities within Northwest Territories, Canada. Utilizing a cross-sectional study design the project took place within ten Northwest Territories communities between 1st April and 30th November 2021. Convenience sampling methods were utilized and adhered to public health restrictions. Self-identifying Indigenous adults (≥ 18 years old) were invited to complete a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Participants (n = 287; 33.1

This paper outlines the methodological approaches to a multi-site Circumpolar case study exploring the impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous and remote communities in 7 of 8 Arctic countries. Researchers involved with the project implemented a three-phase multi-site case study to assess the positive and negative societal outcomes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in Arctic communities from 2020 to 2023. The goal of the multi-site case study was to identify community-driven models and evidence-based promising practices and recommendations that can help inform cohesive and coordinated public health responses and protocols related to future public health emergencies in the Arctic. Research sites included a minimum of 1 one community each from Canada (Nunavut,) United States of America (Alaska), Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland. The approaches used for our multi-site case study provide a comprehensive, evidence-based account of the complex health challenges facing Arctic communities, offering insights into the effectiveness of interventions, while also privileging Indigenous local knowledge and voices. The mixed method multi-site case study approach enriched the understanding of unique regional health disparities and strengths during the pandemic. These methodological approaches serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and healthcare professionals, informing future strategies and interventions.

In the last decade, policy strategies were adopted in response to population ageing in the Nordic countries. Governmental actions have to be evaluated in terms of their efficacy. The objective of this article is to identify and review the policies related to age-inclusive outdoor spaces in the Arctic regions of Nordic countries. Our analysis focuses on central government white papers that address the older adults in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland. A review of such policy documents provides insights into the predominant understandings of older adults and healthy ageing. Moreover, such analysis may identify "blind spots" in the national policies, especially regarding the sparsely researched northernmost and rural Arctic territories. Our results demonstrate how the older populations in the Nordic Arctic and their access to outdoor spaces are addressed in the policy documents. We found that with few exceptions, the older people of the rural Arctic is strikingly absent in the Nordic national governmental papers. Moreover, access to outdoor spaces is mentioned in general terms, and specific challenges of the rural Arctic context, such as the harsh climate, long winters and geographical distances are not addressed. The noticed omissions might be the result of "urban-rural", "south-north", "indoor-outdoor", and "generalisation" biases.

In Arctic populations, a primary route of exposure to contaminants is through the diet. The health risks associated with these exposures can be characterised by conducting human health risk assessments. However, while there is guidance from many international and national organisations, there are limited examples of human health risk assessment in the Arctic. The 2022 AMAP Human Health Assessment Report was the first AMAP report to describe, in one place, the utility of food-based, dietary intake-based and human tissue-based contaminant data in estimating risk. Here, we present available tools, case studies and challenges associated with conducting human health risk assessments in the Arctic. Future efforts in the Arctic should be able to use this information to best interpret human exposure to contaminants in a risk-based context.

The Arctic Monitoring Assessment Program (AMAP) is tasked with monitoring and assessing the status of environmental contaminants in the Arctic, documenting levels and trends, and producing science-based assessments. The objectives of this paper are to present the current levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) across the Arctic, and to identify trends and knowledge gaps as detailed in the most recent AMAP Human Health Assessment Report. Many Arctic populations continue to have elevated levels of these contaminants, and the highest levels of POPs were observed in populations from Greenland, Faroe Islands, and Nunavik (Canada), as well as populations in the coastal Chukotka district (Russia) for legacy POPs only. Concentrations of most POPs are declining in Arctic populations in regions where time trends data exist, although the declines are not consistent across all regions. The exceptions are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, with concentrations of some long-chain PFAS such as perfluorononanoic acid increasing in populations in Nunavik, Greenland and Sweden. This paper provides a more extensive summary of levels of contaminants in adults, pregnant women, and children across the Arctic than previous AMAP human health assessments, particularly for levels of long-chain PFAS, which are currently under consideration for inclusion in the Stockholm Convention.

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged our lives during the years 2020-2022. Impacts could be seen in everyday life, both locally and nationally, through economic, mental and social elements. However, these effects varied depending on the life situation of individuals. This paper aims to gather information from the representatives and operators working in two Finnish municipalities, Inari and Utsjoki, to understand and learn about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data (20 interviews) were collected between December 2021 and February 2022 and analysed following the principles of the qualitative content analysis. The results suggest that the effects of COVID-19 emerged through issues related to the national border between Finland and Norway, economic challenges, and the pressure that people experienced. However, despite challenges, people were supported by everyday life and a connection to nature, communality and close co-operation. Additionally, local needs were highlighted among participants. The results provide a deeper understanding about the public health impacts in these Northernmost municipalities and can therefore be utilised in future development work. They also provide relevant information on the experiences of Sámi people, and specific views related to Sámi people can be recognised.

There is growing awareness and recognition of the importance of the One Health paradigm to address existing environmental threats and recognise emerging ones at an early stage among Arctic residents, public health agencies, and wildlife resource managers. The One Health approach, emphasising the interconnectedness of human, animal, and ecosystem health, plays a pivotal role in addressing these multifaceted issues. Warming climate and permafrost thaw may influence both contaminant exposure and the spread of zoonotic infectious diseases and have impacts on water and food security. Migration from rural regions to larger communities and urban centres along with increased tourism may be accompanied by changes in exposure to contaminants and zoonotic diseases. Universities have developed educational programmes and research projects on One Health in the Arctic, and under the Arctic Council there is running a project of One Arctic, One Health. These arctivities have produced interdisciplinary information and practical solutions for local communities, decision-makers, and in scientific forums. There is a need for epidemiological zoonotic/human disease models, as well as new approaches to integrate existing and future surveillance data to climatic and environmental data. This requires not only regional and international collaboration but also multi-agency and transdisciplinary research.