Maintenance will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 18, and is expected to conclude by approximately 7 a.m. on Monday, July 21. During this time, document upload for online forms will be unavailable, and the website and search functionality may be intermittent. We appreciate your patience.

La maintenance commencera à 18 h le vendredi 18 juillet et devrait prendre fin vers 7 h le lundi 21 juillet. Pendant cette période, les téléversements de documents pour les formulaires en ligne ne seront pas disponibles et il se peut que le site Web ainsi que la fonction recherche ne fonctionnent que de façon intermittente. Nous vous remercions de votre patience.

Google Translate Disclaimer

A number of pages on the Government of Saskatchewan's website have been professionally translated in French. These translations are identified by a yellow box in the right or left rail that resembles the link below. The home page for French-language content on this site can be found at:

Renseignements en Français

Where an official translation is not available, Google™ Translate can be used. Google™ Translate is a free online language translation service that can translate text and web pages into different languages. Translations are made available to increase access to Government of Saskatchewan content for populations whose first language is not English.

Software-based translations do not approach the fluency of a native speaker or possess the skill of a professional translator. The translation should not be considered exact, and may include incorrect or offensive language. The Government of Saskatchewan does not warrant the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information translated by this system. Some files or items cannot be translated, including graphs, photos and other file formats such as portable document formats (PDFs).

Any person or entities that rely on information obtained from the system does so at his or her own risk. Government of Saskatchewan is not responsible for any damage or issues that may possibly result from using translated website content. If you have any questions about Google™ Translate, please visit: Google™ Translate FAQs.

Biomonitoring in Northern Saskatchewan

"Biomonitoring" – or the laboratory analysis of body fluids – can be used to identify the presence of certain chemicals in humans. Biomonitoring gives a "snapshot in time" of the quantity of a given chemical in the body. It does not tell the source, duration or route of exposure. It may not provide information as to whether a particular level of the chemical is a risk to health.

In 2011, the Alberta government approached the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health regarding collaboration in a study to identify the presence of certain chemicals in the blood of Northern Saskatchewan residents.

The ministry partnered with former health authorities including Mamawetan Churchill River, Keewatin Yatthé, and Athabasca. Residual or unused blood from routine prenatal screening of pregnant women in Northern Saskatchewan was tested for chemicals (e.g. lead, mercury, pesticides and chemicals found in tobacco smoke).

The study found that most of the environmental chemicals tested were lower than or comparable to previously reported levels in pregnant Alberta women.

The study has now been completed and is available below:

Northern Saskatchewan Prenatal Biomonitoring Study Technical Summary Report

Northern Saskatchewan Prenatal Biomonitoring Study Technical Report

Infographic describing different chemicals found in our everyday environment

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