The 2000 members of this Siberian tribe show high levels of heavy metals in their bodies. Infant mortality is extremely high, while various forms of cancer eventually kill 61 per cent of the Nentsy. Many children have learning disabilities and mental disorders. Trufakin only found one-quarter of the Netsy were healthy. Contamination most heavily affects the reindeer, mushooms and nuts that the Nentsy eat.
Fish is the least affected food source.
But it's impossible to cut out reindeer meat from their diet. Because fish is only a small part of their diet, the Nentsy would risk starvation if they didn't eat reindeer and other contaminated country foods.