There is always a human health dimension to any major incident or disaster. A meeting organised by the US Institute of Medicine in New Orleans on June 22-23 2010 addressed these concerns. It was good to see the broader aspects of OHS covered, including stress and psychological aspects. It must be difficult for communities immersed in the issues 24/7, with no end in sight. My own experice has been mainly toxic spills and severe cyclones, where the event itself is over quickly.
The agenda for Assessing the Human Health Effects of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: An Institute of Medicine Workshop included:
• Regulatory response
• Who Is at Risk and How Are They Exposed?
• Routes of Exposure and At-Risk Populations
• Occupational Risks and Health Hazards: Workers and Volunteers
• The Here and Now: What are the Short-term Effects on Human Health?
• Short-term Physical Effects
• Short-term Psychological Stress
• Heat Stress and Fatigue
• The Need to Know: What Are the Potential Delayed and Long-term Effects on Human Health?
• Neurological, Cancer, and Other Chronic Conditions
• Impact on Health and Vulnerabilities of Children
• Human Reproduction
• Stress
• Lessons Learned from Previous Oil Spills
STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNICATING RISK
• Engaging the Public, Protecting Health
• Remarks from the Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service
OVERVIEW OF HEALTH MONITORING ACTIVITIES
• Panel Discussion. How are State Governments Currently Monitoring the Effects of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill on Human Health?
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES AND DATA SOURCES
• Panel Discussion. Critical Thinking: What Research Methodologies and Data Sources Could Be Used in Surveillance and Monitoring Activities?
• Additional Federal Government Perspectives
• Overview of Research Methodologies and Data Collection
• Surveillance and Monitoring
• Environmental Assessment, Risk, & Health
• Mental Health
• Biomedical Informatics and Registries
FUTURE DIRECTIONS AND RESOURCE NEEDS
• Panel Discussion. Looking Ahead: How Do We Develop Effective Surveillance and Monitoring Systems?
