Health impact assessment life course approach and children

Health impact assessment, life course approach and children; Need for differentiation in methodology Gabriel Gulis, SDU Esbjerg, Denmark Jarmila Korcova, Trnava University, Trnava, Slovakia

What is HIA • Health impact assessment - any combination of procedures or methods by which a proposed policy or program may be judged as to the effects it may have on the health of a population – Gothenburg consensus paper, WHO • Work in progress

Nickel company in Slovakia • In operation between 1963 -1992 • Aroud 2500 metric tons of nickel per year, cobalt production as well • Raw material from Albania • Hydrometalurgic procedure of production • Around 5072 employees, about 100 000 inhabitants within 25 km diameter circle around factory Sered

Health hazards and population • Identification of target population • Children are one of the ost importnat target population, however the life course approach includes children from different view point also – As offspring of workers – Offspring of people living around company – Chidren itself • Changes over time must be taken in account by methodology both for exposure and for health outcome • Differences in exposure routes

Hazards for childrens of workers • Exposure route: – Direct through pollution in environment – Indirect through reproductive pathways • Health outcomes: – Imunological deficiencies, contact alergies, alergic dermatitis – Early life or/and adulthood diseases • Social hazards, unemployment, education

Hazards for children in surrounding area • Exposure route: – Direct through pollution in environment – Indirect through reproductive pathways • Health outcomes: – Imunological deficiencies, contact alergies, alergic dermatitis – Early life or/and adulthood diseases • Social hazards, unemployment, education Birth outcomes

Indicators • How to select appropriate indicators for conduct of HIA? – Time of exposure and time of impact • Time period of exposure as construction, operation, decommissioning, closing down • Time period of impact, as short, medium, long term – Life period – Lag time

Summary • Need for differentiation in – Target population selection – Indicator selection – Time period selection • Work in progress, a retrospective HIA

Thank you for your attention !!!