Linking Weather, Water Quality, and Health in the Context of a Changing Climate in Nunatsiavut, Canada

Climate change is expected to cause changes in precipitation, runoff, and hydrological extremes that will alter environmental conditions. It has been argued that these ecological changes are very likely to increase the risk and incidence of infectious disease, including waterborne disease. The overall objectives of this study were to: (1) gather, describe, and analyse comparisons of weather, water quality, and IGI-related health data in two Nunatsiavut communities (Nain and Rigolet) in Canada and (2) provide summary results in the form of educational material on weather, water quality and health for local residents.

Community-based meteorological stations captured weather data. Free-chlorine residual levels in drinking water were extracted from municipal records (2005–2008). Raw surface water was tested weekly for total coliforms and E. coli counts using Colilert© kits by trained local personnel (2005–2008). Clinic records provided IGI-related data (2005–2008). Temporal patterns of weather, water quality, and health variables were analyzed using seasonal-trend decomposition procedures based on Loess and linear regression. Knowledge translation activities included interactive workshops for local high school students that showed how data are collected and analyzed, and encouraged students' participation in development of educational media for communicating study results to the larger community.

Bacteriological variables for raw water had a significant positive association with water volume input (rainfall + snowmelt) in Nain. This study is the first to systematically gather and describe baseline empirical data on weather, water quality, and health in Nunatsiavut. It showed the necessity and feasibility of basic improvements in Inuit health data quality (and thus usefulness), and of monitoring environmental health variables consistently and systematically across all arctic regions. Our study engaged Inuit in regional research that not only had great relevance to them, but also effectively brought stakeholders together to use this generated knowledge collaboratively to create tangible interventions, prompt change, and support locally-driven development of new climate change initiatives and research.