Community of Practiceon Ecosystem Health Approaches to Reduce Toxics in Latin America and

the Caribbean andImprove Collective Health

(CoPEH-TLAC)

Donna Mergler PhDCINBIOSE

Université du Québec à Montréal

biosphere

global ecosystem

regional ecosystem

local ecosystem

community

house & workplace

Health & well-being

geophysical milieu

biological factors

socio-political situation

economy

culture

toxic substances

Researches the dynamic interactions between socio-political, cultural and economic factors, the different components of the biogeochemical environment and human health and well-being;

Integrates gender-based concerns and analyses and participative methods;

Requires new disciplinary and transdisciplinary methodologies to examine and combine these various elements;

Has a finality of seeking viable short, medium and long term solutions.

Ecosystem approach to human health

Ecosystem approach to human health

Community of PracticeCommunity of Practice

Groups people with a common interest in some subject or problem

Collaborate over an extended period to share ideas, find solutions, and build innovations

IDRC offered support for the creation of a CoP focusing on the ecohealth approach (CoPEH) to to share their experiences and knowledge, avoid duplication, as well as to further develop their skills and knowledge.

Groups people with a common interest in some subject or problem

Collaborate over an extended period to share ideas, find solutions, and build innovations

IDRC offered support for the creation of a CoP focusing on the ecohealth approach (CoPEH) to to share their experiences and knowledge, avoid duplication, as well as to further develop their skills and knowledge.

Community of Practice on Ecohealth Research to Reduce Toxic Exposures in Latin America and the Caribbean

and Improve Collective Health (CoPEH-TLAC)

Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, México

Instituto Regional de Estudios en Sustancías Tóxicas, Costa Rica

Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Universidade de Brasília, Brasil

Centro de Estudios de la Mujer, Santiago, Chile

Instituto Salud y Trabajo, Peru

Center for Interdisciplinary Studies

on Biology, Health, Environment & Society (CINBIOSE) Montréal

COPEH-TLACCOPEH-TLAC

In an ecosystem approach, this covers not only those involved in the conventional fields of environmental health and regulation of toxic substances, but also in research, policy and practice in such areas as: release of toxic substances from anthropogenic

environmental degradation due to deforestation, mining, hydroelectric reservoirs, etc.;

alternatives to pesticide use through an ecosystem understanding of insect-borne diseases and agrotoxics;

increased pollution through climate change; consequences of globalization on the release of and

exposure to pollutants; urban expansion and toxic exposures;

……

In an ecosystem approach, this covers not only those involved in the conventional fields of environmental health and regulation of toxic substances, but also in research, policy and practice in such areas as: release of toxic substances from anthropogenic

environmental degradation due to deforestation, mining, hydroelectric reservoirs, etc.;

alternatives to pesticide use through an ecosystem understanding of insect-borne diseases and agrotoxics;

increased pollution through climate change; consequences of globalization on the release of and

exposure to pollutants; urban expansion and toxic exposures;

……

COPEH-TLACCOPEH-TLAC

to advance ecosystem approaches in research, policy and practice in the area of toxic exposures and human health by strengthening scientific capacities, communication and understanding

targets researchers, policy makers and other stakeholders working towards the reduction of toxic exposures and improvement of human health

regional and and horizontal structures and mandates

to advance ecosystem approaches in research, policy and practice in the area of toxic exposures and human health by strengthening scientific capacities, communication and understanding

targets researchers, policy makers and other stakeholders working towards the reduction of toxic exposures and improvement of human health

regional and and horizontal structures and mandates

Vector-borne Diseases

Pesticide use in agriculture

Upscaling the Ecohealth Approach

Economic Restructuring and Gender

Mines and Heavy Metals

Transversal themes

Ecosystem Methodologies

ActivitiesActivities

Organize regional and thematic workshops to integrate Ecohealth concepts and methods into on-going research projects and policy-making activities.

Further thinking on ecosystem health in national, regional and international conferences

Link to other networks

Interactive website

Organize regional and thematic workshops to integrate Ecohealth concepts and methods into on-going research projects and policy-making activities.

Further thinking on ecosystem health in national, regional and international conferences

Link to other networks

Interactive website

Workshop: Researchers from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Panama met to integrate ecohealth methodologies into their on-going research

Development of the website. Consolidation of a course on ecosystem approaches to human health in the Escuela de Verano del INSP

Participating in meetings with health professionals and civil society organized by the Ministry of Health to integrate an ecosystem approach into Occupational and Environmental Health Services

Integrating gender-based approaches into the on-going work of all of the nodes

Establishing links with Networks with similar goals. Consolidating researcher-policy maker collaboration

Examples of Nodal Activities

Costa Rica, April 2006 Brazil, May

2006

Peru, May2006

Peru, January 2006

Andean WorkshopEcuador,

September 2006

South Cone Workshop

Chile, September 2006

Gender and Environment

Mexico, October 2006

CAC workshop Dominican Republic

November 2006

Meeting Agrotoxics

Brazil, September 2006

methylmercury in fish

deforestation, erosion & silting

activities

gold-mining mercury poisoning

methylmercury exposure in humans

migration & colonisation

policies

miners

riverine settlers

mercury

mercury in water

methylmercury poisoning

agricultureslash & burn

Gold market

Ministry of HealthMinistry of Industry and Mines

Ministry of Environment

Ministry of Agriculture

Ministry of Housing

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Fisheries

Ministry of Development

Village authorities

Municipal authorities

Unions

Informal structures

NGOs

earlychanges in exposed

groupsillness

Exposure dose

A continuum of deterioration

sub-clinical signs and symptoms in

individuals