Abstract
The long history of disparities towards American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes in America in areas such as education, government funding, and healthcare cannot be overstated. One of the most critical disparities concerns cancer incidences in indigenous communities. Many different cancer types, such as lung, colorectal, kidney, and stomach, are seen to have an increased incidence rate among Indigenous peoples in America when compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Forever chemicals were first introduced in the 1930s and were used primarily in non-stick cookware, water-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foams which these chemicals are now known to be carcinogenic. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree to which the link between exposure to forever chemicals and increased cancer incidence has been studied in indigenous populations in the United States. We performed a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, looking specifically at federally recognized tribes in the United States. Our search yielded only two articles, both deemed not to contain relevant or meaningful data. Moving forward, we feel that it is vitally important that research is done in the United States to determine any potential link between forever chemicals/PFAS and cancer incidence in indigenous populations, as well as address the underlying healthcare disparities and environmental injustices faced by these populations.
Original language | American English |
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Pages | 58 |
State | Published - 13 Sep 2024 |
Event | 2024 Symposium on Tribal and Rural Innovations in Disparities and Equity for Health - Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation, Tahlequah, United States Duration: 13 Sep 2024 → 13 Sep 2024 |
Conference
Conference | 2024 Symposium on Tribal and Rural Innovations in Disparities and Equity for Health |
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Abbreviated title | STRIDE 2024 |
Country/Territory | United States |
City | Tahlequah |
Period | 13/09/24 → 13/09/24 |