Opportunities for the Gulf Research Program Community Resilience and Health: Summary of a Workshop (2015) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
6 Capacity to Address Environmental Health Risks
6 Capacity to Address Environmental Health Risks
Pages 34-44
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 34... ...
Presenters suggested potential opportunities nicating interdependencies and their influence on huto address persistent and acute environmental health man health, ecosystem dynamics, services, and societal threats and to develop capacity to better respond to well-being is a "very tall order." It requires understandenvironmental health threats associated with disasters. ing what sustainable practices are on land, at sea, and Presenters also offered suggestions for improving com- along the coast, which encompasses everything from munication about environmental health risks among inland agricultural practices to resource extraction to residents, policy makers, and researchers.
|
From page 35... ...
"Otherwise, you're not going to be able to detect any differences." As an example of such a monitoring activ- UNIVERSITY–COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS ity, Dickey described the Mussel Watch program, which AND SEAFOOD SAFETY has been monitoring more than 100 different contaminants in shellfish since its establishment in 1986.1 This As part of the NIEHS-supported Deepwater Horizon has been an extremely valuable program, said Dickey, Research Consortia, Andrew Kane, associate professor because it has produced a searchable archive of data of Environmental and Global Health in the College of that can be "mined" to determine the burden and po- Public Health and Health Professions at the University tential impact of environmental stressors on ecosystems of Florida, has been working on a multidisciplinary proand human health. This program could be expanded to gram to address seafood safety concerns that have been include different sentinel species up and down the food identified by communities along the northern Gulf coast.
|
From page 36... ...
The organizational structures of public health de- DETECTING AND UNDERSTANDING EXPOSURES partments can vary by state or even by county or city, but they all have certain basic goals when it comes to Understanding the human and ecosystem effects environmental health threats associated with disasters, of disasters requires understanding exposure, observed said Bruce Brackin, a consulting environmental epide- Kim Anderson, professor in the Department of Environmiologist at the Mississippi State Department of Health. mental and Molecular Toxicology and director of the Before disasters, the most important thing health Food Safety and Environmental Stewardship program at departments can do is to make sure that critical infra- Oregon State University.
|
From page 37... ...
Tech- NIH GULF OIL SPILL AND nology that can sufficiently sample the bioavailable frac- DISASTER RESEARCH RESPONSE tion is especially valuable because this fraction provides a better way to assess the potential health effects of ex- NIH has developed several important programs to posure. The bioavailable fraction, as collected by passive address some of the key needs and research questions samplers, has been shown to be a good predictor of tox- emerging from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill -- from icity (and the lack of toxicity)
|
From page 38... ...
. The goal of this training program is to prepare BOX 6-2 Deepwater Horizon Research Consortia 5-year $25.2 M Program Distinct populations & foci • Women and children Four university/community partnerships • Pregnant women • Tulane University • Cultural/ethnic minorities • Louisiana State University • Seafood safety • University of Florida • University of Texas Medical Branch Shared approaches • Seafood Steering Group Leadership • Resiliency • Includes GuLF STUDY • Population studies • Input from (NTP)
|
From page 39... ...
There standing and communication about environmental are many industries in the Gulf region, including the health risks related to disasters. Activities to enhance the petrochemical industry that could help in evaluating environmental health literacy8 of NGOs, community resbaseline environmental levels of various substances of idents, healthcare workers, and policy makers are needconcern.
|
From page 40... ...
ience and health opportunities through existing oil spill To connect with the oil spill community, actions funding mechanisms. The Gulf Research Program, thus need to be identified that could be taken during a spill to represents a "rare and unique opportunity," to advance protect human health and mitigate impacts on human scientific research and coordination activities that could health, including the psychosocial impacts on individufill public and community health research gaps and im- als and communities, Walker said.
|
From page 41... ...
Risk communicators tailor their messages to Risk communications training for scientists can help their audiences, relay appropriate information, and build them fill this role, said Michael Blum of the Tulane/Xavier trust. In addition, a cadre of very dedicated and passion- Center for Bioenvironmental Research.
|
From page 42... ...
It is important to understand that samples will be gathered and handled correctly. Aninformation is now widely available to the public, and derson has developed training modules, based on her we need to be very cognizant of this in order to have experiences with citizens and representatives of NGOs credible risk communications and to effectively address during the DWH oil spill.
|
From page 43... ...
Another participant noted the items suggested by individual and multiple participants need to include safety training to ensure proper use of during the breakout discussion and should not be seen protective equipment and awareness of substances that as the consensus recommendations of the workshop sample collectors might be exposed to in the field. participants; nor are they necessarily actions that the John Hosey of the The Corps Network Gulf Coast Gulf Research Program should undertake: Restoration Corps, raised some opportunities related to the funding that will come to the Gulf States for envi- Investing in improved monitoring systems (includronmental restoration.
|
From page 44... ...
context and the complexity of what the sponsor is trying to accomplish. Potential opportunities to facilitate collaborations that involve local communities: • Support tailored communication on what differ ent agencies, the academies, the Gulf Research Program, and NGOs are doing (e.g., research, mis sion, goals)
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.