An assessment of the occupational and environmental health needs in seven Southeastern European and West-Central Asian countries

Alexandru Coman, Răzvan M. Cherecheş, Marius I. Ungureanu, Emanuela O. Marton-Vasarhelyi, Marissa A. Valentine, Tara Sabo-Attwood, Gregory C. Gray

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Eastern European and Central Asian countries are undergoing rapid socioeconomic and political reforms. Many old industrial facilities are either abandoned, or use outdated technologies that severely impact the environment. Emerging industries have less regulation than in developed countries and environmental and occupational problems seem to be increasing. Under a US National Institutes of Health pilot grant, we developed an interdisciplinary One Health research network in Southeastern Europe and West-Central Asia to identify environmental and occupational problems. From 2012 to 2014, this GeoHealth Hub engaged 11 academic centers and 16 public health institutions in eight different countries: Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Romania, and the United States with a goal of strengthening environmental and occupational research and training capacities. Employing face-to-face interviews and large group meetings, we conducted an evidenced-based needs and opportunities assessment focused on aquatic health, food safety, and zoonotic diseases. Comprehensive reviews of the published literature yielded priority research areas for each of the seven GeoHealth Hub countries including heavy metal and pesticide contamination, tick-borne diseases, rabies, brucellosis, and inadequate public health surveillance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)375-384
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Volume5
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aquatic ecology
  • Food safety
  • One Health
  • Zoonoses

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'An assessment of the occupational and environmental health needs in seven Southeastern European and West-Central Asian countries'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this