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Epidemiology: A Foundation of Environmental Decision-Making
Citation:
Deener, K., J. Sacks, E. Kirrane, B. Glenn, M. Gwinn, T. Bateson, AND T. Burke. Epidemiology: A Foundation of Environmental Decision-Making. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology . Nature Publishing Group, London, Uk, 6(28):515-521, (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-018-0059-4
Impact/Purpose:
Epidemiology is a cornerstone of public health. In the U.S., epidemiologic evidence, when available, has been instrumental in providing the scientific basis of environmental decisions to protect public health. This paper takes stock of past efforts where epidemiology has informed environmental health decision-making and offers recommendations for strengthening the use of epidemiologic studies in environmental health decisions in the future. The degree to which epidemiology supports decision-making largely depends on the epidemiology database available for the pollutant of interest. Epidemiology can provide powerful scientific evidence for evaluating hazards of environmental exposures, developing risk estimates, and making decisions designed to reduce or eliminate harmful exposures and protect public health. From air pollutants to chemicals in the environment, epidemiology has informed major public health decisions in the U.S. Many of the environmental protection efforts in the U.S. over the past 45 years have been the result of epidemiology informing our understanding of environmental exposures and health risks. Epidemiology will continue to play a strong role in environmental protection and environmental decision-making going forward.
Description:
Background: Epidemiology is a cornerstone of public health. In the U.S., epidemiologic evidence, when available, has been instrumental in providing the scientific basis of environmental decisions to protect public health. Objectives: This paper takes stock of past efforts where epidemiology has informed environmental health decision-making and offers recommendations for strengthening the use of epidemiologic studies in environmental health decisions in the future.Discussion: The degree to which epidemiology supports decision-making largely depends on the epidemiology database available for the pollutant of interest. Epidemiology can provide powerful scientific evidence for evaluating hazards of environmental exposures, developing risk estimates, and making decisions designed to reduce or eliminate harmful exposures and protect public health. From air pollutants to chemicals in the environment, epidemiology has informed major public health decisions in the U.S.Conclusions: Many of the environmental protection efforts in the U.S. over the past 45 years have been the result of epidemiology informing our understanding of environmental exposures and health risks. Epidemiology will continue to play a strong role in environmental protection and environmental decision-making going forward.
