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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2004
Contact: Kerre Fisher, (907) 269-2042 or Sherry Hill, (907) 465-1618

Subsistence Foods Safe In Communities Near Red Dog

Earlier report had errors; subsistence foods still safe to eat around communities in Northwest Alaska

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Anchorage, Alaska – The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health (DPH), Section of Epidemiology recently issued a report on public health implications and recommendations for residents in communities near the Red Dog Mine in Northwest Alaska.

The report is an evaluation and response to another recently published report by the Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) titled “Red Dog and Subsistence: Analysis of Reports on Elevated Levels of Heavy Metals in Plants Used for Subsistence near Red Dog Mine, Alaska.” The purpose of the DPH report is to identify and correct errors in the ACAT report and update public health recommendations.

ACAT based its findings in part on a Department of Environmental Conservation summary spreadsheet of its report, titled “Wild Foods Investigation Public Review Draft Report”. The spreadsheet contained formatting errors that indicated salmonberries collected from the Point Hope area had very high levels of lead, making it appear as though lead is traveling much further from the mine than data actually show. In fact, according to DEC’s report, Point Hope salmonberries contained the lowest levels of lead detected in berries. The wild food investigation report is available at www.state.ak.us/dec/spar/csp/docs/reddog/bibliography.htm#exponent.

Additional conclusions and recommendations from the DPH report include:

  • The concentrations of heavy metals detected in water, soil, caribou, fish, and berry samples collected from the Red Dog mine area do not pose a public health hazard to the residents of Kivalina and Noatak
  • As expected, soil samples at the port contained very high concentrations of lead and zinc, but the general public is excluded from the Port Area.
  • The Alaska Division of Public Health is committed to continuing to collaborate with the residents of Noatak and Kivalina, Maniilaq Health Corporation, NANA, and other key stakeholders. Working together, we can determine if any additional testing of environmental or human samples will be of value to local residents.
  • Residents of Kivalina and Noatak should continue unrestricted harvest and consumption of subsistence resources throughout Northwest Alaska.
  • This report is good news for the residents who live near the Red Dog Mine and it reinforces our prior statement that subsistence foods collected in the area are still safe and healthy to eat,” said Richard Mandsager, M.D., Public Health Director.

Additional online information about environmental health issues can be found at:

Alaska DHSS/DPH Section of Epidemiology

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservations

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For more information, please contact

Sherry Hill
Special Assistant to the Commissioner
Juneau Office: (907) 465-1618
Anchorage: (907) 269-7800
Cell: (907) 321-2838
Email: sherry_hill@health.state.ak.us

Jeff Kasper
Project Director
Juneau Office: (907) 465-8194
Email: jeff_kasper@health.state.ak.us

Kerre Fisher
Public Information Offices
Anchorage: (907) 269-2042
Email: kerre_fisher@health.state.ak.us