A comparative assessment of major international disasters: the need for exposure assessment, systematic emergency preparedness, and lifetime health care

Details

• Personal Author:
  Acquilla S ; Basanets A ; Bertazzi, Pier A. ; Bushmanov A ; Crane M ; Harrison DJ ; Hashim D ; Holden W ; Landrigan, Philip J. ; Lucchini RG ; Luft BJ ; Mazitova N ; Melius, James M. ; Mocarelli P ; Moline JM ; Mori K ; Prezant D ; Reibman J ; Reissman, Dori B. ; Stazharau A ; Takahashi K ; Todd AC ; Udasin IG
• Description:
  Background: The disasters at Seveso, Three Mile Island, Bhopal, Chernobyl, the World Trade Center (WTC) and Fukushima had historic health and economic sequelae for large populations of workers, responders and community members. Methods: Comparative data from these events were collected to derive indications for future preparedness. Information from the primary sources and a literature review addressed: i) exposure assessment; ii) exposed populations; iii) health surveillance; iv) follow-up and research outputs; v) observed physical and mental health effects; vi) treatment and benefits; and vii) outreach activities. Results: Exposure assessment was conducted in Seveso, Chernobyl and Fukushima, although none benefited from a timely or systematic strategy, yielding immediate and sequential measurements after the disaster. Identification of exposed subjects was overall underestimated. Health surveillance, treatment and follow-up research were implemented in Seveso, Chernobyl, Fukushima, and at the WTC, mostly focusing on the workers and responders, and to a lesser extent on residents. Exposure-related physical and mental health consequences were identified, indicating the need for a long-term health care of the affected populations. Fukushima has generated the largest scientific output so far, followed by the WTCHP and Chernobyl. Benefits programs and active outreach figured prominently in only the WTC Health Program. The analysis of these programs yielded the following lessons: 1) Know who was there; 2) Have public health input to the disaster response; 3) Collect health and needs data rapidly; 4) Take care of the affected; 5) Emergency preparedness; 6) Data driven, needs assessment, advocacy. Conclusions: Given the long-lasting health consequences of natural and man-made disasters, health surveillance and treatment programs are critical for management of health conditions, and emergency preparedness plans are needed to prevent or minimize the impact of future threats. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Disaster Planning Emergencies Epidemiology Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Safety September 11 Terrorist Attacks
• Keywords:
  Accidents Author Keywords: Major Accidents Disaster Epidemiology Disaster Exposure Assessment Disaster Planning Disaster Sites Emergency Preparedness Epidemiological Health Surveillance Exposure Assessment Mental Health Surveillance World Trade Center WTC

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• ISSN:
  1471-2458
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; New Jersey ; New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  WTCHP - World Trade Center Health Program
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  46
• Volume:
  17
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049077
• Citation:
  BMC Public Health 2017 Jan; 17:46
• Contact Point Address:
  Dana Hashim, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
• Email:
  dana.hashim@mssm.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• Performing Organization:
  New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20080928
• Source Full Name:
  BMC Public Health
• End Date:
  20110928
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0a1a88fe55e0a41ffc23b84fde9e8b82fa104beb16499c68a1ce1d168051c3f20fc4c5c3d187f08f0e737b9532b3751b86f980f7ad8f45ed7ad07e71093677bc
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/203652/cdc_203652_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 467.99 KB ]