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Environmental Public Health Tracking: a cost-effective system for characterizing the sources, distribution and public health impacts of environmental hazards.
- Source :
- Journal of Public Health; Sep2017, Vol. 39 Issue 3, p506-513, 8p
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Background The contemporary environment is a complex of interactions between physical, biological, socio-economic systems with major impacts on public health. However, gaps in our understanding of the causes, extent and distribution of these effects remain. The public health community in Sandwell West Midlands has collaborated to successfully develop, pilot and establish the first Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) programme in Europe to address this 'environmental health gap' through systematically linking data on environmental hazards, exposures and diseases. Methods Existing networks of environmental, health and regulatory agencies developed a suite of innovative methods to routinely share, integrate and analyse data on hazards, exposures and health outcomes to inform interventions. Results Effective data sharing and horizon scanning systems have been established, novel statistical methods piloted, plausible associations framed and tested, and targeted interventions informed by local concerns applied. These have influenced changes in public health practice. Conclusion EPHT is a powerful tool for identifying and addressing the key environmental public health impacts at a local level. Sandwell's experience demonstrates that it can be established and operated at virtually no cost. The transfer of National Health Service epidemiological skills to local authorities in 2013 provides an opportunity to expand the programme to fully exploit its potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- OBESITY risk factors
POLLUTION
AIR pollution
CHI-squared test
CONFIDENCE intervals
ECOLOGY
FACTOR analysis
INTERPROFESSIONAL relations
NITRIC oxide
POVERTY
PROBABILITY theory
PUBLIC health
PUBLIC health surveillance
RESEARCH funding
STATISTICS
T-test (Statistics)
TRANSPORTATION
FOOD safety
PILOT projects
DATA analysis
ENVIRONMENTAL exposure
INSTITUTIONAL cooperation
HUMAN services programs
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
HEALTH impact assessment
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17413842
- Volume :
- 39
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Public Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 125024645
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdw130