International Workshop: Setting Priorities in Environmental Epidemiology—Report on a World Health Organization Meeting

Abstract

Environmental epidemiology is a rapidly growing field. If the best use of resources is to be made, researchers should concentrate on issues identified as relevant to public health. The Rome Division of the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health organized a workshop to set priorities for research in this area. The meeting was attended by leading experts in the field. Each participant submitted a paper that addressed suggested priorities for research in his or her field of expertise. Using the working papers as a basis of discussion, working groups were formed to clarify priorities in air contamination, water contamination, and radiation and disasters. The participants agreed on the issues that require more research in the hope of avoiding the duplication of efforts and replications of studies on topics on which the evidence was judged sufficient to draw conclusions and to promote public health action. Research groups and funding agencies should use the priorities identified to focus their activities on public health issues and to use funds cost effectively.