Synopses & Reviews
The development of National Environmental Health Action Plans (NEHAPs) has become a major initiative in Europe, with 51 countries now committed to introducing plans by the new millennium. This book is the first substantive attempt to review recent experience in formulating these plans, and to examine and assess the technical and psycho-sociological tools available to support such plans. It brings together results from four of the leading countries involved in NEHAP developments (Sweden, Czech Republic, Romania and Poland) and describes the techniques that were used to identify and prioritise key environmental issues, and to identify policy responses. It also provides an up-to-date review of the methods and tools available for risk assessment, risk communication and priority setting, which are relevant not only to NEHAPs but to environmental planning more generally, and to many other areas of public policy. The discussion of these techniques is supported by numerous case studies, and is concluded by a series of chapters reflecting on the conceptual and research issues that still need to be addressed. The book will thus be of interest and value to all those concerned with developing and applying environmental health policy, to environmental epidemiologists, and to students and practitioners in the wider area of public policy.
Table of Contents
Preface. Part One: Developing NEHAPs: Practice and Experience. 1. National Environmental Health Action Plans: Background and Process; D. Kello, et al. 2. The NEHAP Experience in the Czech Republic, Romania and Poland; H. Cizkova, et al. 3. Setting Priorities for Environmental Health Risks in Sweden; K. Victorin, et al. Part Two: Risk Assessment: Exploring Relationships Between Environment and Health. 4. Sources and Consequences of Uncertainty in Risk Estimates; L. Järup. 5. Outbreak of Baldness in Children in Sillamäe, Estonia; R. Silla, T. Trei. 6. Health Effects of Exposure to Metals from Manufacturing Plants; L. Järup. 7. Is Iodide a Confounding or Effect Modifying Factor of Liver Cirrhosis? I. Vincze, et al. 8. Structural-Functional State of the Bone-Muscular System in People Exposed to Low Doses of Ionising Radiation; V.V. Povoroznjuk. Part Three: Risk Assessment: Mapping and Modelling. 9. Tools for Risk Assessment: Statistical and Spatial Methods; I. Vincze, et al. 10. Environmental Modelling in the NEHAP Process; W.D. Henriques, D.J. Briggs. 11. Tools for Risk Assessment: Geographic Information Systems; D.L. Dalbokova, et al. 12. Monte Carlo Simulations in Risk Assessment: Cancer Risk in the Polish Coke Industry; M. Biesiada, et al. Part Four: Risk Communication. 13. Promoting Active Public Participation; C.G. Jardine, S.E. Hrudey. 14. Putting Risk Communication Policy Into Practice: a U.S. Federal Perspective; T.L. Tinker. 15. Priority Setting of Environmental and Health Policy Options; R. Janikowski. 16. Presenting Decision-Makers with Their Choices: Environment Health Indicators for NEHAPs; D.J. Briggs, J. Wills. Part Five: Issues and Research Needs. 17. What is Risk? C.G. Jardine, S.E. Hrudey. 19. Quantifying the Unquantifiable and Comparing the Non-Commensurate; A. Dumitrescu. 20. Reality Versus Perception, and Values Versus Science in Risk Assessment and Risk Perception; K. Farago. 21. Coping with Complexity in Environmental Health Management and Policy; D.J. Briggs. References. Appendix 1: Workshop Conclusions and Recommendations. Appendix 2: Workshop Participants. Index.