An update on risk communication in the Arctic

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Risk Communication
• Indigenous Studies

Background:

• Arctic residents consume traditional foods, which offer nutritional and cultural benefits but pose contaminant risks.
• The balance between risks and benefits of traditional Arctic food consumption presents a communication challenge, known as the "Arctic Dilemma".

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an update on health risk communication in the Arctic region.
• To summarize research on risk communication methodologies and evaluation approaches.
• To describe specific risk communication initiatives and best practices.

Main Methods:

• Review of research on risk communication methodologies and evaluation.
• Information on specific health risk communication initiatives in Arctic countries, focusing on Indigenous populations.
• Summary of international and local risk communication activities, including social media applications.

Main Results:

• Limited awareness of the outcomes of many risk communication initiatives was observed.
• Some initiatives showed indirect success, such as reduced contaminant levels.
• Uncertainty persists regarding the direct link between specific methods, behavioral changes, and decreased contaminant exposure due to a lack of effectiveness studies.

Conclusions:

• Effectiveness evaluation of risk communication strategies in the Arctic is crucial.
• Developing targeted messages for diverse audiences is complex.
• Social media presents potential for future risk communication efforts.