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Transdiscipline, gender and social equality
S48
Abstracts / Toxicology Letters 259S (2016) S4–S62
AGM is responsible for localized environmental contamination and occupational exposure of adults. However, iatrogenic ethylmercury (EtHg) derived from Thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs) is widely used to immunize pregnant mothers, newborns, infants, infants and children. Therefore, to understand Hg exposure we need to contextualize: (a) environmental fish-MeHg exposure, (b) occupational-exposure, and (c) and exposure to low-doses of TCVEtHg in young children. In the Amazon, mercury exposure studies have addressed health effects in adults and children. In children, health effects in children were addressed in relation to birth weight, linear growth, and neurodevelopment. In adults, Hg exposure from environmental and occupational activities has addressed immune and neurological issues. Despite high levels of fish consumption, no clinical toxicity in children or adults has ever been reported due to fish-MeHg. However, mixed results associated with Hg exposure from different sources can be found. Strategies for reducing children exposure to EtHg is possible using Thimerosal-free vaccines but it is more difficult to interfere with fish consumption (in subsistence populations) without the consequences of changing lifestyle of the riverine populations. Policies to diminish human Hg exposure should focus on controlling and/or curbing widespread use of Hg (in gold amalgamation) and promotion of Thimerosal-free vaccines for pregnant women and young children. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.07.111 S26-3 Conceptual maps. Research methodologies. Case study: Exposure to manganese in Hidalgo, Mexico D. Hernández-Bonilla National Institute of Public Health, Environmental Health Department, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico Conceptual maps are graphical tools for organizing and representing knowledge, these are an important tool for understanding complex problems in the field of environmental health. The application of this tool in the ecohealth approach has allowed understand the links between humans and their biophysical, social, and economic environments, these links and its relation between them reflected the population’s state of health. Nowadays, Mexico has the eighth highest Mn deposit in the world and the second in Latin America. It is located in Hidalgo state, in the east of the country, comprising an area of 125 km2 , with a reserve of 32 million tons of this metal. Several studies have been conducted in the area since 1998 to document neurotoxic effects of Mn in the inhabitants of the surrounding Communities. The use of conceptual maps has been help to define the impact of the activity mining on population’s health environmentally exposure to Mn. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.07.112 S26-4 Transdiscipline, gender and social equality J. Medel 1,∗ , M. Parra 2
tools for design. The Ecohealth approach demands to research teams to be trained in frameworks and concepts beyond their own discipline, founding in the principles of transdiscipline, equality and participation. Transdiscipline requires rigorous methods and techniques to each discipline and the integration of policy makers, community and other stakeholders from the beginning Lebel, 2005, Charrón, 2012, Betancourt, Mertens y Parra, coords. 2016). Two training activities within Ecohealth collaborations have favoured dialogue among disciplines, policy maker and community knowledge: (a) workshops for training researchers in heavy metal exposures, given by members of COPEH-LAC from Cono Sur, Mexico and Canada-CINBIOSE nodes (Montevideo, 2010–2012); (b) programme of fellowships in EkoSanté Collaboration (2013–2017). Participant researchers often improved their projects by incorporating the equality pillar (gender, social, others), initially not included by them; as a consequence, they needed to add other specialities, as social, biological, medical and other sciences. Objective: (1) To know the aspects of gender and social equality included in the studies and initiatives developed with a transdiscipline approach. (2) To identify resources, techniques and methods that produced better results. (3) To identify barriers faced in applying the Ecohealth approach to research in heavy metals exposure. Materials and methods: Review and analysis of documents and reports of COPEH-LAC and EkoSante collaborations. Interviews to researchers and participants in the Ecohealth training activities. Results: Systematized information about implementation of principles of transdiscipline and equality in research on heavy metals exposures and other pollutants in Latin America. Conclusions: The analysis will inform new aspects in the implementation of an Ecohealth approach in research of heavy metals exposure in relation to human health and environment. It can be useful to propose changes in practices and solutions for problems of health and environment. Financial support: IDRC-CSIC Uruguay. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.07.113 S26-5 Transdiscipline in support Ecohealth approach/practical example H. Riojas-Rodríguez Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Mexico Introduction: Transdiscipline in Ecohealth looks for an integration of environmental, social, health sciences and other forms of knowledge in order to solve questions regarding population health and to purpose interventions. Methods: A case study on manganese exposure in a mining zone, is presented showing the effectiveness of this approach. Results: Environmental degradation, social determinants and neurological effects have being documented as well as social actors interactions and social representations. Using this approach, the mining company and the government have implemented during the last six years an environmental management plan. The plan has been evaluated and first results shows a significant decrease in manganese exposure and neurological effects. Discipline integration significantly contributes to understand complex situation and to reduce health risks.
1
Centro de Estudios de la Mujer, Santiago, Chile Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians University (Munich), Santiago, Chile 2
Introduction: Research about problems of human health in relation to environment becomes more complex and it needs new
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.07.114
Abstracts / Toxicology Letters 259S (2016) S4–S62
AGM is responsible for localized environmental contamination and occupational exposure of adults. However, iatrogenic ethylmercury (EtHg) derived from Thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs) is widely used to immunize pregnant mothers, newborns, infants, infants and children. Therefore, to understand Hg exposure we need to contextualize: (a) environmental fish-MeHg exposure, (b) occupational-exposure, and (c) and exposure to low-doses of TCVEtHg in young children. In the Amazon, mercury exposure studies have addressed health effects in adults and children. In children, health effects in children were addressed in relation to birth weight, linear growth, and neurodevelopment. In adults, Hg exposure from environmental and occupational activities has addressed immune and neurological issues. Despite high levels of fish consumption, no clinical toxicity in children or adults has ever been reported due to fish-MeHg. However, mixed results associated with Hg exposure from different sources can be found. Strategies for reducing children exposure to EtHg is possible using Thimerosal-free vaccines but it is more difficult to interfere with fish consumption (in subsistence populations) without the consequences of changing lifestyle of the riverine populations. Policies to diminish human Hg exposure should focus on controlling and/or curbing widespread use of Hg (in gold amalgamation) and promotion of Thimerosal-free vaccines for pregnant women and young children. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.07.111 S26-3 Conceptual maps. Research methodologies. Case study: Exposure to manganese in Hidalgo, Mexico D. Hernández-Bonilla National Institute of Public Health, Environmental Health Department, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico Conceptual maps are graphical tools for organizing and representing knowledge, these are an important tool for understanding complex problems in the field of environmental health. The application of this tool in the ecohealth approach has allowed understand the links between humans and their biophysical, social, and economic environments, these links and its relation between them reflected the population’s state of health. Nowadays, Mexico has the eighth highest Mn deposit in the world and the second in Latin America. It is located in Hidalgo state, in the east of the country, comprising an area of 125 km2 , with a reserve of 32 million tons of this metal. Several studies have been conducted in the area since 1998 to document neurotoxic effects of Mn in the inhabitants of the surrounding Communities. The use of conceptual maps has been help to define the impact of the activity mining on population’s health environmentally exposure to Mn. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.07.112 S26-4 Transdiscipline, gender and social equality J. Medel 1,∗ , M. Parra 2
tools for design. The Ecohealth approach demands to research teams to be trained in frameworks and concepts beyond their own discipline, founding in the principles of transdiscipline, equality and participation. Transdiscipline requires rigorous methods and techniques to each discipline and the integration of policy makers, community and other stakeholders from the beginning Lebel, 2005, Charrón, 2012, Betancourt, Mertens y Parra, coords. 2016). Two training activities within Ecohealth collaborations have favoured dialogue among disciplines, policy maker and community knowledge: (a) workshops for training researchers in heavy metal exposures, given by members of COPEH-LAC from Cono Sur, Mexico and Canada-CINBIOSE nodes (Montevideo, 2010–2012); (b) programme of fellowships in EkoSanté Collaboration (2013–2017). Participant researchers often improved their projects by incorporating the equality pillar (gender, social, others), initially not included by them; as a consequence, they needed to add other specialities, as social, biological, medical and other sciences. Objective: (1) To know the aspects of gender and social equality included in the studies and initiatives developed with a transdiscipline approach. (2) To identify resources, techniques and methods that produced better results. (3) To identify barriers faced in applying the Ecohealth approach to research in heavy metals exposure. Materials and methods: Review and analysis of documents and reports of COPEH-LAC and EkoSante collaborations. Interviews to researchers and participants in the Ecohealth training activities. Results: Systematized information about implementation of principles of transdiscipline and equality in research on heavy metals exposures and other pollutants in Latin America. Conclusions: The analysis will inform new aspects in the implementation of an Ecohealth approach in research of heavy metals exposure in relation to human health and environment. It can be useful to propose changes in practices and solutions for problems of health and environment. Financial support: IDRC-CSIC Uruguay. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.07.113 S26-5 Transdiscipline in support Ecohealth approach/practical example H. Riojas-Rodríguez Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Mexico Introduction: Transdiscipline in Ecohealth looks for an integration of environmental, social, health sciences and other forms of knowledge in order to solve questions regarding population health and to purpose interventions. Methods: A case study on manganese exposure in a mining zone, is presented showing the effectiveness of this approach. Results: Environmental degradation, social determinants and neurological effects have being documented as well as social actors interactions and social representations. Using this approach, the mining company and the government have implemented during the last six years an environmental management plan. The plan has been evaluated and first results shows a significant decrease in manganese exposure and neurological effects. Discipline integration significantly contributes to understand complex situation and to reduce health risks.
1
Centro de Estudios de la Mujer, Santiago, Chile Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians University (Munich), Santiago, Chile 2
Introduction: Research about problems of human health in relation to environment becomes more complex and it needs new
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.07.114