Greenlanders famously subsist on sources of red meat and organs – polar bears, seals, whales – in a diet that most humans cannot. However, especially among people in East Greenland, their diet has led to high levels of environmental toxins that could be coming from industrial centers in other continents, up the marine food chain from microorganisms to fish carried by the Gulf Stream to the bears and whales that Greenlanders eat.
Studies show that the problem is more prevalent among eastern than western Greenland residents. However, data are too limited to pinpoint exact reasons why, beyond the fact that the Gulf Stream passes more closely by the eastern portion of the island than the west.
While concentrations of the toxins are greater in men than women, the risks posed to pregnant women and children are high, because the toxins harm fetus growth and development of immune systems. Because the harm is not immediate but occurs over a long time, it often is not obvious to residents. Education about the problem is key to addressing the dietary behavior behind it.
A report from Aarhus University Technical Services recommends that East Greenlanders be encouraged to diversify their diet to reduce the presence of accumulated environmental toxins. Among protein sources from animals, healthier alternatives include fish, reindeer, and musk ox. Fish, while it has the toxins, has it in less concentration because it is lower down the food chain.
One educational point the researchers encourage is to guide residents toward sorting their diets to include products further down the chain food. Where possible, plant-based foods should also be encouraged. Government regulations restricting harmful meats would be less effective than in other countries because the harmful products are not often purchased in markets where restrictions could be straightforward but are obtained by hunting or from other hunters.