Health impact assessment, life course approach and children; Need for differentiation in methodology Gabriel Gulis, SDU Esbjerg, Denmark Jarmila Korcova, Trnava University, Trnava, Slovakia

What is HIA Health impact assessment - any combination of procedures or methods by which a proposed policy or program may be judged as to the effects it may have on the health of a population – Gothenburg consensus paper, WHO Work in progress

Nickel company in Slovakia In operation between Aroud 2500 metric tons of nickel per year, cobalt production as well Raw material from Albania Hydrometalurgic procedure of production Around 5072 employees, about inhabitants within 25 km diameter circle around factory Sered

Health hazards and population Identification of target population Children are one of the ost importnat target population, however the life course approach includes children from different view point also –As offspring of workers –Offspring of people living around company –Chidren itself Changes over time must be taken in account by methodology both for exposure and for health outcome Differences in exposure routes

Hazards for childrens of workers Exposure route: –Direct through pollution in environment –Indirect through reproductive pathways Health outcomes: –Imunological deficiencies, contact alergies, alergic dermatitis –Early life or/and adulthood diseases Social hazards, unemployment, education

Hazards for children in surrounding area Exposure route: –Direct through pollution in environment –Indirect through reproductive pathways Health outcomes: –Imunological deficiencies, contact alergies, alergic dermatitis –Early life or/and adulthood diseases Social hazards, unemployment, education Birth outcomes

Indicators How to select appropriate indicators for conduct of HIA? –Time of exposure and time of impact Time period of exposure as construction, operation, decommissioning, closing down Time period of impact, as short, medium, long term –Life period –Lag time

Summary Need for differentiation in –Target population selection –Indicator selection –Time period selection Work in progress, a retrospective HIA

Thank you for your attention !!!