Abstract
In order to meet the demand for better tools to support interpretation of statistical data on health outcome, hospital registry data, and data on occupational health in terms of establishing correlation between health and occupational and environmental factors, it has been suggested to establish a new European database on environmental health. Since, however, there already exist numerous collections of relevant data in many European countries, it might be preferable to aim at a solution which as far as possible could utilize already existing data and information, and improve existing data through a systematic effort to supplement the collections with additional data, where necessary. A number of exploratory contacts between WHO and relevant European institutions have already taken place in the first part of 1988 in order to set up a framework for further action. As a follow-up of these contacts the Berlin workshop on environmental health data has been arranged with the aim of discussing:
– the need for a database (or an integrated system of databases) on environment health;
– the possibilities and requirements for expert systems to support interpretation of environmental health data and analyze correlations between health risks and environmental and/or occupational factors;
– identification of data collections suitable as a basis for a joint environmental health system;
– identification of barriers for merging of data from different collections;
– specification of optimal data collection and registration for a joint system;
– specification of requirements for WHO and/or national strategies for collection of health data as basis for identification of health risk factors;
– recommendations to WHO for further action in view of the comments from the participants in the workshop.
As a basis for the discussions at the workshop a brief state-of-the-art-report is presented on two areas, where recent developments might contribute to meet demands for appropriate use of existing data collections and for creation of systems, which could support analysis, planning and decision making in environmental and occupational health.