Environmental Health Title Card for the Arctic

Title card for the Arctic Environmental Health goal.  This shows blueberry in fall foliage.

Rapid ecosystem changes are leading to new challenges for environmental health that may impact the health of wildlife and humans in the Arctic. Changes in the abundance and distribution of subsistence foods are of particular concern as many indigenous Alaskans rely on traditional sources of meat, fish, and berries. The USGS is working with partners to measure changing levels of naturally occurring nutrients, trace metals, pathogenic microbes, and toxins in physical and biological samples and to evaluate potential effects on wildlife.