In an exciting development, the ArcSolution project, a Horizon Europe-funded initiative, welcomes a new partner from the Faroe Islands. This addition promises to bring decades of expertise and a community-focused approach to addressing the Arctic’s environmental and health challenges.
The new partner, Deildin fyri Arbeiðs- og Almannaheilsu (Department for Occupational and Public Health) from the Faroese Hospital System, will contribute over 40 years of research on the health effects of marine pollutants. Their participation significantly enhances the ArcSolution project’s mission to develop sustainable solutions for Arctic communities, particularly by creating a dedicated Work Package (WP7).
The populations of the High North and Arctic regions are exposed to various contaminants through their consumption of marine mammals. For the past 40 years, I have been researching the impact of marine pollutants and their harmful effects on the Faroe Islands. Our studies have demonstrated that these substances can harm people’s health. As a result, we have recommended that pregnant women, in particular, avoid consuming the most contaminated marine diets. This recommendation has been quite successful, as mothers’ exposure to these pollutants has been reduced significantly, even though the overall diet remains unchanged and still contains contaminants,”. – says Pål Weihe, head of the Occupational and Public Health Department. “I look forward to working with the research communities in ArcSolution to find further ways to live with pollution and climate change in our part of the Globe.” – he continues.
A Focus on Community Resilience and Traditional Practices
WP7 assesses human exposure to environmental contaminants, emphasising long-term health outcomes and cultural implications.
Key elements of this initiative include:
- Participants from a previous study in the Faroe Islands, now aged 40, will be reassessed to investigate the long-term impacts of pollutant exposure.
- Considering gender-specific differences, a cross-sectional study will evaluate mercury levels in the broader Faroese population.
- The study will collaborate with the Faroese Whalers’ Association and hunters in East Greenland. It will examine PFAS exposure and its effects on immune response.
- The project plans to incorporate citizen science initiatives to engage local stakeholders in identifying sustainable ways to reduce pollutant exposure.
- The research findings are expected to inform public health policies while preserving traditional lifestyles central to many Arctic communities.
Enhancing the ArcSolution Mission
Jon Øyvind Odland, ArcSolution Scientific Coordinator, welcomes the new partner. “The ArcSolution has several skilled partners in all study sites. Because of this, the EU decided to allocate extra funding to the project. Several good ideas led to the natural choice of partners at Faroe Island, led by Pal Weihe, the Chief Medical Officer and long-term partner in AMAP. Generous extra funding from Brussels allows for using the ongoing human cohorts at the Faroes and building the One Health concept based on existing information on mammals, marine life, and wildlife in general.”
Adding this experienced partner to the ArcSolution consortium highlights the European Union’s commitment to inclusive, collaborative approaches in addressing the global challenges of climate change and pollution. Together, the consortium is working toward a healthier, more sustainable Arctic.
