Prioritizing environmental issues around the world: opinions from an international Central and Eastern European environmental health conference.
BACKGROUND
As the next generation of scientists enters the field of environmental health, it is imperative that they view their contributions in the context of global environmental stewardship. In this commentary, a group of international graduate students facilitated by three experienced environmental health scientists present their views on what they consider to be the global environmental health concerns of today. This group convened initially in October 2004 at an international health conference in Prague, Czech Republic.


OBJECTIVE
In this report we identify perceived environmental health concerns that exist around the world, with a focus on Central and Eastern Europe. Additionally, we address these perceived problems and offers some potential solutions.


CONCLUSIONS
At the meeting, students were invited to participate in two panel discussions. One group of young international scientists identified several significant global environmental health concerns, including air pollution, occupational hazards, and risk factors that may exacerbate current environmental health issues. The second panel determined that communication, education, and regulation were the mechanisms for addressing current environmental challenges.


CONCLUSIONS
In this commentary we expand on the views presented at the meeting and represent the concerns of young investigators from nine different countries. We provide ideas about and support the exchange of information between developed and developing countries on how to handle the environmental health challenges that face the world today.
Craft
Elena S
ES
Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. esc5@duke.edu
Donnelly
Kirby C
KC
Neamtiu
Iulia
I
McCarty
Kathleen M
KM
Bruce
Erica
E
Surkova
Irina
I
Kim
David
D
Uhnakova
Iveta
I
Gyorffy
Erika
E
Tesarova
Eva
E
Anderson
Beth
B
D004782:Environmental Health; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation