Untitled

Abstract

Environmental assessment (EA) is required in Canadian federal and provincial jurisdictions as part of the process for decision-making on the acceptability of development projects. With increasing recognition of the relationship between environment and health, assessing "health" impact has growing importance. This paper presents the framework that is being developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for addressing environmental health indicators, reports on the findings of a series of five regional workshops held in 1995-96 to examine the role of health professionals in environmental assessment in Canada, and presents a case study illustrating how human health has been addressed in a prominent EA conduct in northern Saskatchewan. Opportunities for future development of environmental health indicators are considered, with special reference to the potential use of medical data to address these challenges.

Using Human Disease Outbreaks as a Guide to Multilevel Ecosystem Interventions

“…Although currently “there is no simple solution to a quantitative and quick assessment of ecosystem health” (Ramade 1995), we contend that human disease surveillance (particularly notification systems for infectious disease) at local, regional, and global levels is often a readily available and accurately recorded bioindicator that could be used for such purposes. Monitoring of disease events is more widespread, accurate, and subject to ongoing quality assurance than many of the “indicators of ecosystem health” that have been proposed in the past (Spiegel and Yassi 1997), which are often difficult to routinely measure and which require intensive investigation and complex analysis (Rapport et al 1995). A similar argument could be mounted for other such diffuse ecosystem measures such as “vitality,” “vigor,” and “resilience” (Mageau et al 1995).…”

“…A major advantage in using disease outbreaks as bioindicators of even subtle ecosystem disruptions is that the health of human populations is generally subject to more widespread and accurate surveillance than is ecosystem health (Spiegel and Yassi 1997). Many sources of data, such as data obtained from disease registries, infectious disease notification systems, and hospitalizations, provide ongoing measurement and monitoring of human communities.…”

Towards ecological public health? Cuba’s moral economy of food and agriculture

“…53 Cuba's achievement of strong public health outcomes in a context of limited resources has previously been explained as an effect of its position on 'the margins of globalization', which enabled it to set priorities independent of the influence of institutions that imposed Structural Adjustment policies on many countries. 54 identifiable edible objects)', such as soya mince, a protein-rich product used to replace more expensive meat products. This product was detested universally, although it was consumed by those recognised as protein-needy.…”