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major concern to the lUCH. As has been testified to by CIA Director Robert 

 Gates, the problem of nuclear and industrial waste ocean dumping by the former 

 Soviet Union, will have grave human health effects. These environmental health 

 problems will require monitoring and basic "risk assessment" and this is where 

 the lUCH can best provide direct assistance. 



The lUCH can assist governments, both regionally and at the community- 

 level, as to the environmental health problems that nay emerge and how to respond 

 to such problems. The lUCH membership can assist by answering the questions that 

 are raised by communities and also in providing information about the potential 

 effects. As a circumpolar-wide health organization, we can also provide 

 coordination of Arctic environmental health research. 



Ue have nade numerous contacts regarding our offer of services to a number 

 of northern international fora. In particular, at the meeting of the 

 International Arctic Science Committee (lASC), held last year in Oslo, Norway, 

 lUCH President, Dr. Jens Peder Hart Hansen, was asked to Investigate the need and 

 opportunities for lASC to play a role in facilitating international cooperation 

 for research in medical and health sciences in the Arctic. At the recent Council 

 meeting of the lASC, April 1992, Dr. Hart Hansen Introduced an lUCH proposal 

 addressing liaison and cooperation, and the creation of a permanent lASC working 

 group on medical and health sciences consisting of the lUCH Council and a 

 temporary working group on monitoring of human health in the Arctic environment. 



The lASC response to the proposal was formal agreement to liaise with the 

 lUCH through the lUCH President. Furthermore, they agreed to that the lUCH 

 Council would constitute a standing advisory body to lASC as to medical and 

 health services In the Arctic. lASC will also draw on lUCH advice as to 



