Identification of environmental sources of lead exposure in Nunavut (Canada) using stable isotope analyses.

Background: Blood lead levels (BLLs) were measured in the adult Inuit population of Nunavut, Northern Canada, during the Inuit Health Survey (IHS) in 2007-2008. Approximately 10% of the adult participants had BLL over the Health Canada's guidance of 100μg/L.

Objectives: 1) To repeat the measurement of BLL among the IHS participants with high BLL and household members including pregnant women and children under 10years of age; 2) to measure lead (Pb) concentrations in environmental samples to identify potential sources and 3) to explore how Pb from environmental samples contributes to BLL using Pb stable isotopic analyses.

Health system determinants of infant, child and maternal mortality: A cross-sectional study of UN member countries.

Objective: Few studies have examined the link between health system strength and important public health outcomes across nations. We examined the association between health system indicators and mortality rates.

Methods: We used mixed effects linear regression models to investigate the strength of association between outcome and explanatory variables, while accounting for geographic clustering of countries.