Research Agenda for Children E. van Deventer Radiation programme HSE/PHE/IHE 1 NIR and Children's Health, Ljubljana 20 May 2011
WHO's 6 core functions 1. Articulate ethical and evidence-based policy positions 2. Setting norms and standards, and promoting and monitoring their implementation 3. Shaping the research agenda, and stimulating the generation, translation and dissemination of valuable knowledge 4. Providing technical support, catalysing change and developing sustainable institutional capacity 5. Monitoring the health situation and assessing health trends 6. Providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in partnerships where joint action is needed 2 NIR and Children's Health, Ljubljana 20 May 2011
Research in a World Health Report Under the theme Research for Health, the World Health Report 2012 will discuss the impact of conducting and translating health research. 3 NIR and Children's Health, Ljubljana 20 May 2011
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Children Children represent our future, with over 2.2 billion worldwide (aged 0-19) However, each year, at least 3 million children under the age of five die due to environment-related diseases Children in many countries still face the major traditional environmental hazards (including unsafe water, contaminated food, injuries, air pollution, ) Other children live in environments that are vastly different from those of generations ago. In particular, they are exposed to new exposures (new technologies) 5 NIR and Children's Health, Ljubljana 20 May 2011
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RF Research Agenda (2010) Epidemiology: prospective cohort studies of children and adolescents (include behavioural and neurological disorders and cancer) Human studies: further provocation studies on RF EMF effects in children of different ages Animal studies: effects of early-life and prenatal exposure on development and behaviour 9 NIR and Children's Health, Ljubljana 20 May 2011
UV: An environmental risk!! Science Risk Assessment 1979 1982 1994 Public Awareness Risk Perception and communication Policies Risk Management 2006 10 NIR and Children's Health, Ljubljana 20 May 2011
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World Health Organization Recommendations for Health Ministries Governments should consider comprehensive legislation governing the operation of sunbeds Any legislation should be legally binding and be capable of local enforcement Reduce access to sunbeds for those under the age of 18 Reduce numbers of self-service tanning parlours www.who.int/uv 12 NIR and Children's Health, Ljubljana 20 May 2011
IARC Working Group Report Exposure to Artificial UV Radiation and Skin Cancer (2006) www.iarc.fr 13 NIR and Children's Health, Ljubljana 20 May 2011
IARC Monograph vol. 100 Review of all carcinogenic agents Hazard classification (whether an agent is capable of causing cancer under some circumstances) Vol 100 D on Radiation (Lyon, June 1-9, 2009) Summary and conclusions in The Lancet Oncology, Vol 10 August 2009, Special Report: Policy. 14 NIR and Children's Health, Ljubljana 20 May 2011
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Purpose of WHO Research Agendas To promote research areas that have relevance to public health, and can reduce scientific uncertainties: health effects research respond to public concern through better risk communication: social science research "HEALTH is a state of COMPLETE physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the ABSENCE of disease or infirmity" 16 NIR and Children's Health, Ljubljana 20 May 2011
Relevant Topics Health effects research epidemiology human studies animal studies cell studies mechanisms of interaction dosimetry and exposure assessment Social science research 17 NIR and Children's Health, Ljubljana 20 May 2011
Radiation Public Health UV Radon Public Concern EMF X-rays X-rays EMF Radon UV 18 NIR and Children's Health, Ljubljana 20 May 2011