How is it that toxins, from thousands of miles away can enter an ecosystem that previously had no trace of these pollutants? The answer is the grasshopper effect, which is causing a health crisis among the Inuit people in the Arctic Circle. The grasshopper effect is the name used to describe how the pollutants are able to travel. Below, is an explained that can be found on the PBS web site.
In a phenomenon scientists call the grasshopper effect, toxic pollutants released thousands of miles to the south evaporate in the warm climate. They then ride the winds until they reach the cold air of the Arctic, where they eventually fall to the earth.
As a result, both land and sea dwelling animals ingest the toxins. On land the toxins are deposited into the plant life and eaten by Caribou, once source of food for the Inuit. In the water, the toxins are found in plankton, which fish in turn eat. These fish then become a source of food for seals and polar bears.
Hunting seals is an important part of the Inuit lifestyle. It is not only an important part of their culture, passed down through the generations, but it also provides food.
According to PBS,
Recent studies show that Inuits have some of the world’s highest levels of toxic chemicals in their bodies. The discovery of toxic pollutants in the food supply has put 155,000 Inuit’s on the brink of a public health disaster.
In February, a press release was posted online disclosing the discoveries of a new study conducted by scientists at the University of Michigan, the Cold Regions Research & Engineering Laboratory and the University of Alaska. This study found the mercury was present in Alaskan ice crystals. Again, the toxin works its way into the food chain and is eventually ingested by humans. This can cause several health problems including
Damage to the central nervous system, heart and immune system. The developing brains of young and unborn children are especially vulnerable.
A growing problem is the health of unborn children. Because the toxins are ingested, as previously explained, new health problems are arising with unborn and newborn children.
Women eat the toxins and their body stores them in their fat. The fat is a main source of food for unborn children. When these women give birth, the toxins are released into their breast milk and unknowingly transferred to their children. This is becoming an increasing problem, especially because most of these women have no other way of feeding their babies. They live fairly simple lives and do not have enough money to purchase formula from the store to feed their babies.
The way of life for these people is being interrupted by toxic pollution even though they are not responsible for releasing the pollutants.
