Background: Anxiety among Inuit adolescents in the Arctic has not previously been studied empirically, although the evidence of major anxiety-related problems in this community. In addition to describe anxiety markers, we examined their relationships with diverse developmental risk factors including exposure to environmental chemicals, a specific subject of concerns in Nunavik.Methods: Anxiety was assessed in 89 Inuit participants (Mean age=18.4y; Range=16.2 to 21.9y) enrolled in the longitudinal Nunavik Child Development Study. They completed the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) assessing situational (State) and general (Trait) anxiety levels. Potential risk factors of anxiety documented through follow-ups were examined at birth, at 11 years of age and at the time of assessment, including blood levels of chemicals (Hg, lead, PCBs), nutrients and vitamins, as well as age, sex, IQ, drug/alcohol, bullying, family violence, food insecurity, crowding and SES.Results: Anxiety scores on both questionnaires were high, particularly for the SCARED, which mean score was above the clinical threshold. Multiple regression results show that significant risk predictors of the SCARED scores were exposure to Hg during childhood (β=.25, p=.02) and adolescence (β=.27, p=.004), food insecurity (β=.27, p=.004), bullying history (β=.21, p=.03) and female status (β=.26, p=.01). For the STAI, the only significant predictor was IQ (β= -.27, p=.02) on Trait, whereas concentration of cord blood Hg (β=.25, p=.03), home crowding during childhood (β=.34, p=.002), adolescence (β=.23, p=.02), food insecurity (β=.22, p=.03), vitamin E (β=-.25, p=.02) and selenium (β=.21, p=.04) were found to be the significant predictors of anxiety on State.Conclusions: Our findings show that Inuit adolescents are at risk for anxiety via multiple contributing factors, particularly chronic exposure to Hg, food insecurity and female status.