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Occupational Medicine 2000;50:221-225
© 2000 Society of Occupational Medicine

Major Chemical Incidents: Bridging the Occupational–Public Health Gap

S R. Palmer*,, H. Rees{dagger} and G. Coleman{ddagger}

* Dept of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Wales College of Medicine Cardiff, UK
{dagger} Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, University of Wales College of Medicine Cardiff, UK
{ddagger} WHO Collaborating Centre, University of Wales Institute Cardiff, UK

Increasing awareness and concern about possible long-term health effects of exposure to chemicals after major chemical incidents has opened up a new area of public health activity. However, progress is hampered by a lack of low level exposures in potentially highly susceptible subgroups of the populations, and by a lack of expertise in public health. The challenge is to extend the toxicological and epidemiological experience developed in the occupational setting to the community level. To better define the problem population surveillance of acute chemical hazards, first set up in Wales, has been extended throughout the UK, and is also being piloted internationally. Further work is needed to address specific problems of the epidemiological follow-up of populations exposed, the assessment of the psychological consequences at the community level, and risk perception and communication. Organisational arrangements for the public health management of incidents and their sequelae must move beyond short-term funding and market competition and must incorporate the expertise of the occupational disciplines.

Keywords      public health; surveillance; chemical hazards

Correspondence to: Professor S.R. Palmer, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK. E-mail: palmersr{at}cardiff.ac.uk


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