Environmental health
The term Environmental Health (EH) is not easy to define and there are many definitions to explain the effects of the environment on human health. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines it as follows:
Environmental health includes both the direct pathological effects of chemicals, radiation and some biological agents and the effects (often indirect) on health and well-being of the broad physical, psychological, social and aesthetic environment, which include housing, urban development, land use and transport.
- http://www.agius.com/hew/resource/envhlth.htm
- http://www.health.gov/environment/definitionsofEnvHealth/ehdef2.htm
- http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/consumer/environ/toxglos.htm
- Further definitions of EH and other words related to this subject can be found at:
The United Nations environment programme online bookshop lists books and publications in useful subject categories:
Books
EH books are kept in the reading room at different locations, but with a concentration of books on EH at WA 30 and books on the environment at WA 670-850. Many useful reports, particularly those of WHO are in the basement store.
Some recent books are given below:
Boaz NT. Evolving health : the origins of illness and how the modern world is making us sick. Wiley, 2002
BMA location: D27611
Harremoes P. Precautionary principle in the 20 century : late lessons from early warnings. Earthscan , 2002
BMA location: WA 30
McMichael T. Human frontiers, environments and disease. Cambridge University Press, 2001. ISBN 0521004942
BMA location: WA 30
Wisner B, Adams J. Environmental health in emergencies and disasters: a practical guide
World Health Organization 2002
BMA location: WA 30 (A pdf version is available online)
Journals
The BMA holds the following journals:
Archives of environmental health
Heldref Publ, ISSN 0003-9896
Research, both national and international, from epidemiology, toxicology, biostatistics, and biochemistry
http://www.heldref.org/aeh.php
BMA members with NHS Athens passwords can access the full text via our periodicals pages.
Environmental research
Elsevier
Aims to define etiology of environmentally induced illness and increase understanding of the mechanisms by which environmental agents cause disease.http://authors.elsevier.com/JournalDetail.html?PubID=622821&Precis=DESC
OEM online
Occupational and Environmental Medicine is a monthly journal concerned with areas of current importance in occupational medicine and EH issues throughout the world:
http://oem.bmjjournals.com/
Scandinavian journal of work, environment and health
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, National Institute of Occupational Health (Denmark),National Institute of Occupational Health (Norway) and National Institute for Working Life (Sweden)
Promotes research in fields of occupational health and safety and work environment and to publish original and review articles.
http://www.sjweh.fi/
Database resources
Some specialist EH databases are given below. Some of these can be searched free of charge on the internet; some databases are chargeable and searches can be conducted for BMA members by library staff for a fee - see details here .
AgBiotech infonet
Biotechnology and genetic engineering in agricultural production. It also features scientific reports and technical analysis, as well as emerging issues of widespread interest, developments in the policy arena and major media coverage:
http://www.biotech-info.net/risks.html
Apred
Air Pollution Research Database which offers up-to-date information on UK researchers in this field, highlighting their expertise and areas of interest:
http://wads.leApred.ac.uk/ieh/apred/index.htm
Eionet
European Environment Information and Observation Network has databases, topic areas and other services:
http://www.eionet.eu.int
ENDS
Environmental Data Services is an independent publisher that serves professionals and provides extensive information and databases on the subject:
http://www.ends.co.uk
RTK Net
The Right-to-Know Network provides free access to numerous databases, text files, and conferences on the environment, housing, and sustainable development:
http://www.rtk.net/rtkdata.html
Web resources
There are many useful websites.
You can locate the OMNI and Medical Matrix sites and other gateway sites here.
AG care
Agricultural Groups concerned about resources and the environment:
http://www.agcare.org
Children's Environmental Health Network
US multi-disciplinary project to protect the fetus and the child from environmental hazards:
http://www.cehn.org
Contaminated Land
Information on contaminated land in the UK:
http://www.contaminatedland.co.uk
Council for Biotechnology Information
Information on how to conserve natural resources:
http://www.whybiotech.com/en/benefits/nutrition/con63.asp?MID=40
Envirowise
Directory of environmental related links to Government and non-government organisations, general information and databases:
http://www.envirowise.gov.uk
Europa
Coverage of European Union affairs and essential information on European integration. One of sections is dedicated to the environment:
http://www.europa.eu.int
Health, Environment and Work
Site of Raymond Agius, Professor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Manchester Medical School, includes academic resources in occupational and EH with links, tutorials, courses, news:
http://www.agius.com/hew
UNEP
United Nations Environment Programme is built on a heritage of service to the environment. UNEP's uniqueness lies in its advocacy of environmental concerns within the international system:
http://www.unep.org
Waste Watch
Public website that provides useful information about reducing and re-using waste:
http://www.wastewatch.org.uk
Water Research
Independent consultancy, research and solutions for water, waste and environment worldwide:
http://www.wrcplc.co.uk
WHO - Protection of the Human Environment
Sustainable basis for health for all by ensuring an environment that promotes heatlh:
http://www.who.int/peh
Other organisations and libraries
British Occupational Hygiene Society
Suite 2 Georgian House - Great Northern Road
Derby
DE1 1LT
tel: 01332 298101
fax: 01332 298099
email: 100705.3356@compuserve.com.
http://www.bohs.org
Multidisciplinary learned society which was founded in 1953 and now has members in over 30 countries. Promotion and protection of occupational and environmental health.
Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
tel: 020 7238 6000 (switchboard)
fax: 020 7238 6591
http://www.defra.gov.uk
Aims to protect and improve and integrate the environment with other policies across Government.
Environment Agency
Head Office Public Enquiries Unit
Environment Agency
Rio House, Waterside Drive, Aztec West,
Almondsbury,
Bristol
BS32 4UD
tel: 08459 333111
email here to: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Wide range of legal duties touching on almost every aspect of the environment: water resources, flood warnings, fisheries; pollution, waste management and water quality. The excellent web site has a great deal of information.
Food Standards Agency
Aviation House
125 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6NH
tel 020 7276 8000 (Out of hours)
http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk
Government agency for food safety and standards.
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood Street
LONDON
N1 7JQ
tel: 020 7490 1555
http://www.foe.co.uk
UK pressure group which aims to protect and improve the conditions for life on earth:
Greenpeace
Canonbury Villas
London
N1 2PN
tel: 020 7865 8100
fax: 020 7865 8200
email here to: info@uk.greenpeace.org
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk
Campaigning organisation to ensure an environment free of hazardous chemicals, the development of new oils, nuclear problems and the protection of the rainforest in the Amazon:
Glasgow University Environmental and Evolutionary Division Library
I.B.L.S
1st Floor Graham Kerr Building
University of Glasgow
Glasgow
G12 8QQ
tel. 0141 3306617
email here to: G.Ruxton@bio.gla.ac.uk.
http://www.gla.ac.uk/library/DirLibs/deeb.html
access: university members but access can be provided for non-members.
Gelnet
Protection of the Human Environment
World Health Organization,
1211 Geneva
Switzerland
fax: +41 22 7914123,
email here to: pfistera@who.ch.
http://www.who.int/phe/en/
Made up of global libraries dedicated to acting as sources for information on health and the environment:
Health and Safety Executive
HSE Infoline
Caerphilly Business Park
Caerphilly
CF83 3GG
tel. 08701 545500
fax 02920 859260
email here to: hseinformationservices@natbrit.com.
http://www.hse.gov.uk
UK Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive are responsible for the regulation of almost all the risks to health and safety arising from work activity in Britain.
Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine Environmental Technology Library
Level 4 Central Library
Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine
London
SW7 2AZ
tel. 020 7594 9307
fax 020 7594 8876
email here to: l.dorrington@ic.ac.uk
access: specialist library is for university members but access can be provided for non-members.
Institution of Occupational Safety & Health
The Grange
Highfield Drive
Wigston
Leicester
LE18 1NN
tel. 0116 2573100
fax 0116 2573101
http://www.iosh.co.uk/
Europe's leading body for health and safety professionals.
MRC Institute for Environment & Health
University of Leicester
94 Regent Road
Leicester
LE1 7DD
tel. 0116 2231600
fax: 0116 2231601
email here to: ieh@le.ac.uk.
http://www.le.ac.uk/ieh
National Environment Research Council
http://www.nerc.ac.uk
Promotes and provides funding for environmental research. It includes environmental data, funding opportunities and newsletters.
Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland
3 Manor Place
Edinburgh
EH3 7DH
tel. 0131-225-6999/5444
fax 0131-225-3993
email here to: rehis@rehis.org.uk
http://www.royal-environmental-health.org.uk/