This is a summary of the workshop Rebuilding the Unity of Health and the Environment: A New Vision of Environmental Health for the 21st Century. The goal of this workshop was to emphasize the connection between human health and the natural, built, and social environments. This workshop integrated talks from many fields and created a dialogue among various environmental health stakeholders. The language presented in this respect should not be viewed as an endorsement by the Environmental Health Sciences Roundtable or the Institute of Medicine of what action is needed for the future, but rather as an effort to synthesize the various perspectives presented. Table of Contents <ul>
<li>Front Matter</li>
<li>Summary</li>
<li>1 Introduction</li>
<li>2 Keynote Address</li>
<li>3 Human Health and the Natural Environment</li>
<li>4 Human Health and the "Built" Environment</li>
<li>5 Human Health and the Social Environment</li>
<li>6 Toward an Integrative Approach to Environmental Health</li>
<li>References</li>
<li>Abstracts of Talks</li>
<li>APPENDIX A Workshop Agenda</li>
<li>APPENDIX B Speakers and Panelists</li>
<li>APPENDIX C Workshop Participants</li>
</ul>

Rebuilding the Unity of Health and the Environment: A New Vision of Environmental Health for the 21st Century (Compass)

Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine

Division of Health Sciences Policy

Coussens, Christine

Hanna, Kathi

INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE

Health, Fitness & Dieting

National Academies Press

The Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine was established in 1988 as a mechanism for bringing the various stakeholders together to discuss environmental health issues in a neutral setting. The members of the Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine come from academia, industry, and government. Their perspectives range widely and represent the diverse viewpoints of researchers, federal officials, and consumers. They meet, discuss environmental health issues that are of mutual interest, and bring others together to discuss these issues as well. For example, they regularly convene workshops to help facilitate discussion of a particular topic. The Rountable's fifth national workshop entitled From Source Water to Drinking Water: Ongoing and Emerging Challenges for Public Health continued the theme established by previous Roundtable workshops, looking at rebuilding the unity of health and the environment. This workshop summary captures the discussions and presentations by the speakers and participants, who identified the areas in which additional research was needed, the processes by which changes could occur, and the gaps in our knowledge.

From Source Water to Drinking Water: Workshop Summary

Science & Math

Board on Health Sciences Policy

Biological Sciences

Houston is struggling with many of the environmental problems that most of the nation's major metropolitan areas are struggling with - transportation, water and air pollution, flooding, and major demographic changes. Therefore, Houston provided an excellent site for a regional meeting on the relationship between environment and health. The purpose of this workshop in Houston was to bring all the stakeholders together - the private and public sector, along with representatives of the diverse communities in Houston - to discuss the impact of the natural, built, and social environments on human health. Rebuilding the Unity of Health and the Environment summarizes the presentations and discussions of this workshop. The lessons one may draw from this meeting's presentations and discussions apply to other regions that are undergoing similar changes and that must also contend, as does Houston, with the legacies of insufficient planning, environmentally deficient planning, or sometimes, no planning at all.

Rebuilding the Unity of Health and the Environment: The Greater Houston Metropolitan Area: Workshop Summary

Earth Sciences

The National Research Council's Disasters Roundtable and the Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine were established as mechanisms for bringing various stakeholders together to discuss timely issues in a neutral setting. The goal was not to resolve these issues, but to create an environment conducive to scientific debate. The members of the respective Roundtables comprise representatives from academia, industry, nongovernmental agencies, and government, whose perspectives range widely and represent the diverse viewpoints of researchers, federal officials, and public interest. This report is the summary of a workshop was convened by the two Roundtables as a contribution to the debate on the health risks of disasters and the related need to build capacity to deal with them. The meeting was strengthened by integrating perspectives from these two fields, so that the agenda represented information from both communities and provided an opportunity to look at some of the most pressing research and preparedness needs for health risks of disasters. Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1 Linking Hazards and Public Health: Communication and Environmental Health2 Linking Hazards and Public Health: Case Studies in Disaster3 Preparedness and Response: Systems, Supplies, Staff, and Space4 Practical Considerations of Emergency PreparednessReferencesAppendix A Workshop AgendaAppendix B Speakers and PanelistsAppendix C Workshop Participants

Public Health Risks of Disasters: Communication, Infrastructure, and Preparedness: Workshop Summary

Disasters Roundtable

National, Research Council

Diseases & Physical Ailments

Throughout much of its history, the United States was predominantly a rural society. The need to provide sustenance resulted in many people settling in areas where food could be raised for their families. Over the past century, however, a quiet shift from a rural to an urban society occurred, such that by 1920, for the first time, more members of our society lived in urban regions than in rural ones. This was made possible by changing agricultural practices. No longer must individuals raise their own food, and the number of person-hours and acreage required to produce food has steadily been decreasing because of technological advances, according to Roundtable member James Merchant of the University of Iowa. The Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Environmental Health Science, Research, and Medicine held a regional workshop at the University of Iowa on November 29 and 30, 2004, to look at rural environmental health issues. Iowa, with its expanse of rural land area, growing agribusiness, aging population, and increasing immigrant population, provided an opportunity to explore environmental health in a region of the country that is not as densely populated. As many workshop participants agreed, the shifting agricultural practices as the country progresses from family operations to large-scale corporate farms will have impacts on environmental health. This report describes and summarizes the participants' presentations to the Roundtable members and the discussions that the members had with the presenters and participants at the workshop. Table of Contents <ul>
<li>FrontMatter</li>
<li>Summary</li>
<li>Introduction</li>
<li>1 Environmental Health in Rural America</li>
<li>2 The Social Environment in Rural America</li>
<li>3 The Role of the Natural Environment in Rural America</li>
<li>4 The Built Environment and Health in Rural Areas</li>
<li>References</li>
<li>A Workshop Agenda</li>
<li>B Speakers and Panelists</li>
<li>C Meeting Participants</li>
</ul>

Rebuilding the Unity of Health and the Environment in Rural America: Workshop Summary

Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice

Biological threats like SARS and natural disasters like the tsunami in Indonesia have devastated entire regions, and quickly exhausted budgetary resources. As the field of environmental health continues to evolve, scientists and others must focus on gaining a better understanding of the links between human health and various environmental factors, and on creating new paradigms and partnerships needed to address these complex environmental health challenges facing society. Global Environmental Health in the 21st Century: From Governmental Regulations to Corporate Social Responsibility: Workshop Summary discusses the role of industry in environmental health, examines programs designed to improve the overall state of environmental health, and explores how governmental and corporate entities can collaborate to manage this industry. Stakeholders in both the public and private sectors are looking for viable solutions as the complexity of societal problems and risks associated with management and varying regulatory standards continue to increase. Global Environmental Health in the 21st Century draws critical links and provides insight into the current shape of global environmental health. The book recommends expanding environmental management systems (EMS) to encompass a more extensive global network. It also provides a complete assessment of the benefits and costs resulting from implementation of various environmental management systems.

Global Environmental Health in the 21st Century: From Governmental Regulation to Corporate Social Responsibility: Workshop Summary

Public health officials have the traditional responsibilities of protecting the food supply, safeguarding against communicable disease, and ensuring safe and healthful conditions for the population. Beyond this, public health today is challenged in a way that it has never been before. Starting with the 9/11 terrorist attacks, public health officers have had to spend significant amounts of time addressing the threat of terrorism to human health. Hurricane Katrina was an unprecedented disaster for the United States. During the first weeks, the enormity of the event and the sheer response needs for public health became apparent. The tragic loss of human life overshadowed the ongoing social and economic disruption in a region that was already economically depressed. Hurricane Katrina reemphasized to the public and to policy makers the importance of addressing long-term needs after a disaster. On October 20, 2005, the Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine held a workshop which convened members of the scientific community to highlight the status of the recovery effort, consider the ongoing challenges in the midst of a disaster, and facilitate scientific dialogue about the impacts of Hurricane Katrina on people's health. Environmental Public Health Impacts of Disasters: Hurricane Katrina is the summary of this workshop. This report will inform the public health, first responder, and scientific communities on how the affected community can be helped in both the midterm and the near future. In addition, the report can provide guidance on how to use the information gathered about environmental health during a disaster to prepare for future events. Table of Contents <ul>
<li>Front Matter</li>
<li>Summary</li>
<li>1 Introduction</li>
<li>2 Hurricane Katrina: Challenges, Concerns, Policies, and Needs</li>
<li>3 Hurricane Katrina: Challenges for the Community</li>
<li>4 Nature and Extent of Environmental Exposures</li>
<li>5 Health Monitoring, Assessment, and Response</li>
<li>6 Community Involvement in Response to Disasters</li>
<li>7 Research to Address Gaps in Environmental Health Assessments During Disasters</li>
<li>8 Moving Forward</li>
<li>References</li>
<li>Appendix A Workshop Agenda</li>
<li>Appendix B Speakers and Panelists</li>
<li>Appendix C Workshop Participants</li>
</ul>

Environmental Public Health Impacts of Disasters: Hurricane Katrina: Workshop Summary

Green Healthcare Institutions : Health, Environment, and Economics, Workshop Summary is based on the ninth workshop in a series of workshops sponsored by the Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine since the roundtable began meeting in 1998. When choosing workshops and activities, the roundtable looks for areas of mutual concern and also areas that need further research to develop a strong environmental science background. This workshop focused on the environmental and health impacts related to the design, construction, and operations of healthcare facilities, which are part of one of the largest service industries in the United States. Healthcare institutions are major employers with a considerable role in the community, and it is important to analyze this significant industry. The environment of healthcare facilities is unique; it has multiple stakeholders on both sides, as the givers and the receivers of care. In order to provide optimal care, more research is needed to determine the impacts of the built environment on human health. The scientific evidence for embarking on a green building agenda is not complete, and at present, scientists have limited information. Green Healthcare Institutions : Health, Environment, and Economics, Workshop Summary captures the discussions and presentations by the speakers and participants; they identified the areas in which additional research is needed, the processes by which change can occur, and the gaps in knowledge. Table of Contents <ul>
<li>Front Matter</li>
<li>1 Introduction</li>
<li>2 Sustainable Healthcare Facilities</li>
<li>3 Economics, Ethics, and Employment</li>
<li>4 The Health Aspects of Green Buildings</li>
<li>5 The Process of Change</li>
<li>6 Champions for Change</li>
<li>7 General Workshop Discussion</li>
<li>Presentation Abstracts</li>
<li>References</li>
<li>Appendix A Workshop Agenda</li>
<li>Appendix B Speakers and Panelists</li>
<li>Appendix C Workshop Participants</li>
</ul>

Green Healthcare Institutions: Health, Environment, and Economics: Workshop Summary

Environmental health decision making can be a complex undertaking, as there is the need to navigate and find balance among three core elements: science, policy, and the needs of the American public. Policy makers often grapple with how to make appropriate decisions when the research is uncertain. The challenge for the policy maker is to make the right decision with the best available data in a transparent process.  The Environmental Health Sciences Decision Making workshop, the first in a series, was convened to inform the Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine on emerging issues in risk management, "weight of evidence," and ethics that influence environmental health decision making. The workshop, summarized in this volume, included an overview of the principles underlying decision making, the role of evidence and challenges for vulnerable populations, and ethical issues of conflict of interest, scientific integrity, and transparency. The workshop engaged science interest groups, industry, government, and the academic sector.

Environmental Health Sciences Decision Making: Risk Management, Evidence, and Ethics: Workshop Summary

The issues surrounding water services are some of the most critical challenges facing not only the United States, but also the global community today. The Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine of the Institute of Medicine convened a workshop in October 2007, summarized in this volume, to address objectives related to Sustainable Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Services. One of the objectives of the workshop was to think about the interdependence of environmental health and human health as connected through water. Organizations cannot discuss water without considering the interrelationship of sanitation and hygiene. It is the convergence of these strategies that promotes healthy outcomes for both individuals and the environment. A second objective of the workshop was to consider how planning, management, and interdisciplinary approaches-including technology, social behavioral issues, gender, health, environment, economic, and political aspects-can be integrated to arrive at sustainable solutions. Many organizations and agencies are trying to forge a path toward sustainable practices in water, but the various sectors utilizing and governing water services are not interconnected. More integration and a greater understanding of holistic approaches are needed. Table of Contents <ul>
<li>Front Matter</li>
<li>1 Workshop Introduction</li>
<li>2 Global Water Services: Short- and Long-Range Views</li>
<li>3 The Technology Pillar of Sustainable Water: Technology, Economics, and Health</li>
<li>4 Panel Discussion: Coordination and Prioritization of Water Needs</li>
<li>5 Achieving Water and Sanitation Services for Health in Developing Countries</li>
<li>6 The Environmental Pillar of Sustainable Water: Ecological Services</li>
<li>7 The Social Pillar of Sustainable Water: Health Research Gaps</li>
<li>8 Panel Discussion: Moving Forward</li>
<li>9 Thinking About New Visions of Water Services</li>
<li>10 Breakout Group: Meeting Goals for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene</li>
<li>References</li>
<li>Appendix A: Workshop Agenda</li>
<li>Appendix B: Speakers and Panelists</li>
<li>Appendix C: Workshop Participants</li>
</ul>

Global Environmental Health: Research Gaps and Barriers for Providing Sustainable Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Services: Workshop Summary

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