The Northern Aquatic Food Chain Contamination Database: a research tool

During a review of data on the contamination of Canadian Arctic regions, it became apparent that a system should be developed to manage the vast array of information available. This conclusion led to the development of the Northern Aquatic Food Chain Contamination Database. It contains information on all contaminants for which data were available in the regions comprising the Yukon and Northwest Territories, the Hudson and James Bay basins, northern Que´bec (Nunavik), and Labrador. Data on Greenland were also included. Data were gathered from an extensive literature review, as well as from organizations and researchers. More than 30 variables are attached to each mean concentration value, including location, species, reference, % water, % lipids, age, sex, contaminant identification, standard deviation, minimum and maximum, and sampling date. All variables are subject to availability from the authors. The area under study is divided into 10 distinct regions to facilitate data management. Sample locations are geographically referenced to permit the use of geographical information systems. The database is mounted on the 4th DIMENSION software and was developed to provide an adequate standard of user friendliness. Since the database was developed for both immediate and future needs, it has sufficient flexibility to be useful to any researchers dealing with contaminants in northern regions.