Tribal Grant | Research | Department of Public Health

Regional Tribal Exposure Scenarios Based on Major Ecological Zones and Traditional Subsistence Lifestyles

EPA Grant Number: R831046
Investigator(s): Barbara L. Harper, P.I*.; Anna K. Harding, Co-Inv*.; Therese S. Waterhous, Co-Inv.* ; Stuart G. Harris, Co-Inv., Confederated Tribes of the Umitilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Tribal Member. (*Affiliated with Oregon State University)
Institution: Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
EPA Project Officer: Nigel Fields
Project Period: October 1, 2003- September 30, 2006
Project Amount: $449,970

Objectives

The overall goal is to prepare a set of regional traditional tribal subsistence exposure scenarios that are based on the major ecological zones across the ‘lower 48’ states (excluding Alaska and Hawa’ii). Specific objectives include: (1) establish an Advisory Board of tribal members and members from the university community to provide expertise in tribal cultural lifestyles, nutrition, ecology, and activity patterns. The Board will actively guide the project, will validate scenarios for cultural and numerical accuracy, and ensure that they meet tribal needs; (2) develop regional traditional tribal subsistence multi-pathway exposure scenarios based on eco-cultural zone delineations, major exposure factors, regional food patterns, and unique exposure pathways; and, (3) develop a draft Tribal Exposure Scenario Guidance Manual for use by tribes to modify, refine, and adapt these regional scenarios for their site-specific and/or individual tribal situations.

The Principal Investigator, Barbara Harper is an employee of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and has a joint appointment with OSU. Stuart Harris, manager of the CTUIR Department of Science and Engineering, is a co-investigator. OSU faculty particpants include public health, nutrition, geography, and exercise physiology faculty, as well as graduate students. Several Tribes are participating from various ecoregions: the Aroostook Band of Micmas Indians (Maine), the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Leech Lake Band, the Swinomish Tribe (Washington, Puget Sound), the Elem Tribe (Pomo, California), the Spokane Tribe (WA, upper Columbia Basin Plateau, and CTUIR (OR, lower Columbia Basin Plateau). All of these tribes are either members of the National Tribal Environmental Council Superfund Working Group (SWG) or have interacted with the SWG and its members.

Approach

Exposure scenarios for these regional eco-cultural zones will be derived from existing literature (toxicological, anthropological, nutritional, and ecological), and validated by the Advisory Board of tribal and university members who have expertise with typical regional traditional subsistence diets and typical cultural practices. Tasks include identifying ecological zones and cultural groupings to define eco-cultural zones, developing direct exposure factors that are applicable to all regions, describing regional subsistence food patterns and typical subsistence and cultural activity patterns, and developing numerical exposure factors for regional scenarios. Scenarios will be completed region by region over 2 years. During year 3, a draft Guidance Manual for scenario development and refinement will be prepared for review by EPA, tribes, and intertribal groups.

Expected Results

This partnership between university and tribal staff will allow us to produce regional generic tribal exposure scenarios with national coverage. They will be formatted so that they can be used early in the CERCLA process and progressively modified as site-specific information becomes available. The guidance manual will describe how to modify the scenarios for site-specific and/or individual tribal use. These scenarios will aid EPA and ATSDR in evaluating and reducing tribal risks, and will also benefit tribes and regulators who are developing regulatory standards, setting up environmental monitoring programs, evaluating risks from global contaminants in their subsistence foods, or examining disproportionate exposures and disparate health risk rates.

Information

The Traditional Tribal Subsistence Exposure Scenario and Risk Assessment Guidance Manual (Adobe PDF) is available upon request. If you are interested in receiving either a CD or bound paper copy of the Guidance Manual, please specify which version you would prefer and send these requests to either Barbara Harper (bharper@amerion.com) or Anna Harding - email. We are also interested in receiving comments about the Guidance Manual. Please send comments either by email or by letter (addresses for Drs. Harper and Harding are available on the main page of the website).
Completed Exposure Scenarios (Adobe Acrobat file) and CTUIR Scenario (Word)
Advisory Board Members
OSU Grant Team Members
Presentations (Adobe Acrobat file)
News Releases
Soil Ingestion, Fish Consumption Rate, Sweatlodge-Steam, Inhalation Appendices (Adobe Acrobat and Word files)

Contact Information

Barbara Harper, PhD, DABT

Associate Professor (Affiliated faculty)
Department of Public Health
Oregon State University
Richland address:
44803 E. Alderbrook Ct.
West Richland, WA 99353
Ph: 509-966-2804
Email: bharper@amerion.com

Anna Harding, PhD

Associate Professor
Department of Public Health
Oregon State University 97331
Ph: 541-737-3830
Email: anna.harding@oregonstate.edu
College biosketch

Stuart Harris, BS

Director, Department of Science & Engineering
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Ph: 509-966-2408
Email: stuartharris@ctuir.com

Therese Waterhous, PhD

Instructor and Research Scientist
Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences
Oregon State University
Ph: 541-737-9192
Email: therese.waterhous@oregonstate.edu
College biosketch


	Limit results to this site.		Health & Human Sciences » Public Health » Research » Tribal Grant. Regional Tribal Exposure Scenarios Based on Major Ecological Zones and Traditional Subsistence Lifestyles EPA Grant Number: R831046 Investigator(s): Barbara L. Harper, P.I.; Anna K. Harding, Co-Inv.; Therese S. Waterhous, Co-Inv.* ; Stuart G. Harris, Co-Inv., Confederated Tribes of the Umitilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Tribal Member. (*Affiliated with Oregon State University) Institution: Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon EPA Project Officer: Nigel Fields Project Period: October 1, 2003- September 30, 2006 Project Amount: $449,970 Objectives The overall goal is to prepare a set of regional traditional tribal subsistence exposure scenarios that are based on the major ecological zones across the ‘lower 48’ states (excluding Alaska and Hawa’ii). Specific objectives include: (1) establish an Advisory Board of tribal members and members from the university community to provide expertise in tribal cultural lifestyles, nutrition, ecology, and activity patterns. The Board will actively guide the project, will validate scenarios for cultural and numerical accuracy, and ensure that they meet tribal needs; (2) develop regional traditional tribal subsistence multi-pathway exposure scenarios based on eco-cultural zone delineations, major exposure factors, regional food patterns, and unique exposure pathways; and, (3) develop a draft Tribal Exposure Scenario Guidance Manual for use by tribes to modify, refine, and adapt these regional scenarios for their site-specific and/or individual tribal situations. The Principal Investigator, Barbara Harper is an employee of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and has a joint appointment with OSU. Stuart Harris, manager of the CTUIR Department of Science and Engineering, is a co-investigator. OSU faculty particpants include public health, nutrition, geography, and exercise physiology faculty, as well as graduate students. Several Tribes are participating from various ecoregions: the Aroostook Band of Micmas Indians (Maine), the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Leech Lake Band, the Swinomish Tribe (Washington, Puget Sound), the Elem Tribe (Pomo, California), the Spokane Tribe (WA, upper Columbia Basin Plateau, and CTUIR (OR, lower Columbia Basin Plateau). All of these tribes are either members of the National Tribal Environmental Council Superfund Working Group (SWG) or have interacted with the SWG and its members. Approach Exposure scenarios for these regional eco-cultural zones will be derived from existing literature (toxicological, anthropological, nutritional, and ecological), and validated by the Advisory Board of tribal and university members who have expertise with typical regional traditional subsistence diets and typical cultural practices. Tasks include identifying ecological zones and cultural groupings to define eco-cultural zones, developing direct exposure factors that are applicable to all regions, describing regional subsistence food patterns and typical subsistence and cultural activity patterns, and developing numerical exposure factors for regional scenarios. Scenarios will be completed region by region over 2 years. During year 3, a draft Guidance Manual for scenario development and refinement will be prepared for review by EPA, tribes, and intertribal groups. Expected Results This partnership between university and tribal staff will allow us to produce regional generic tribal exposure scenarios with national coverage. They will be formatted so that they can be used early in the CERCLA process and progressively modified as site-specific information becomes available. The guidance manual will describe how to modify the scenarios for site-specific and/or individual tribal use. These scenarios will aid EPA and ATSDR in evaluating and reducing tribal risks, and will also benefit tribes and regulators who are developing regulatory standards, setting up environmental monitoring programs, evaluating risks from global contaminants in their subsistence foods, or examining disproportionate exposures and disparate health risk rates. Information The Traditional Tribal Subsistence Exposure Scenario and Risk Assessment Guidance Manual (Adobe PDF) is available upon request. If you are interested in receiving either a CD or bound paper copy of the Guidance Manual, please specify which version you would prefer and send these requests to either Barbara Harper (bharper@amerion.com) or Anna Harding - email. We are also interested in receiving comments about the Guidance Manual. Please send comments either by email or by letter (addresses for Drs. Harper and Harding are available on the main page of the website). Completed Exposure Scenarios (Adobe Acrobat file) and CTUIR Scenario (Word) Advisory Board Members OSU Grant Team Members Presentations (Adobe Acrobat file) News Releases Soil Ingestion, Fish Consumption Rate, Sweatlodge-Steam, Inhalation Appendices (Adobe Acrobat and Word files) Contact Information Barbara Harper, PhD, DABT Associate Professor (Affiliated faculty) Department of Public Health Oregon State University Richland address: 44803 E. Alderbrook Ct. West Richland, WA 99353 Ph: 509-966-2804 Email: bharper@amerion.com Anna Harding, PhD Associate Professor Department of Public Health Oregon State University 97331 Ph: 541-737-3830 Email: anna.harding@oregonstate.edu College biosketch Stuart Harris, BS Director, Department of Science & Engineering Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Ph: 509-966-2408 Email: stuartharris@ctuir.com Therese Waterhous, PhD Instructor and Research Scientist Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences Oregon State University Ph: 541-737-9192 Email: therese.waterhous@oregonstate.edu College biosketch