1. Community of Practice on Ecosystem Health Approaches to Reduce Toxics in Latin America and the Caribbean and Improve Collective Health (CoPEH-TLAC) Donna Mergler PhD CINBIOSE Université du Québec à Montréal

5. biosphere global ecosystem regional ecosystem local ecosystem community house & workplace Health & well- being geophysical milieu biological factors socio-political situation economy culture toxic substances

6. w Researches the dynamic interactions between socio-political, cultural and economic factors, the different components of the biogeochemical environment and human health and well-being; w Integrates gender-based concerns and analyses and participative methods; w Requires new disciplinary and transdisciplinary methodologies to examine and combine these various elements; w Has a finality of seeking viable short, medium and long term solutions. Ecosystem approach to human health

7. Community of Practice Groups people with a common interest in some subject or problem Collaborate over an extended period to share ideas, find solutions, and build innovations IDRC offered support for the creation of a CoP focusing on the ecohealth approach (CoPEH) to to share their experiences and knowledge, avoid duplication, as well as to further develop their skills and knowledge. Groups people with a common interest in some subject or problem Collaborate over an extended period to share ideas, find solutions, and build innovations IDRC offered support for the creation of a CoP focusing on the ecohealth approach (CoPEH) to to share their experiences and knowledge, avoid duplication, as well as to further develop their skills and knowledge.

8. Community of Practice on Ecohealth Research to Reduce Toxic Exposures in Latin America and the Caribbean and Improve Collective Health (CoPEH-TLAC)

9. Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, México Instituto Regional de Estudios en Sustancías Tóxicas, Costa Rica Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Universidade de Brasília, Brasil Centro de Estudios de la Mujer, Santiago, Chile Instituto Salud y Trabajo, Peru Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on Biology, Health, Environment & Society (CINBIOSE) Montréal

10. COPEH-TLAC In an ecosystem approach, this covers not only those involved in the conventional fields of environmental health and regulation of toxic substances, but also in research, policy and practice in such areas as: release of toxic substances from anthropogenic environmental degradation due to deforestation, mining, hydroelectric reservoirs, etc.; alternatives to pesticide use through an ecosystem understanding of insect-borne diseases and agrotoxics; increased pollution through climate change; consequences of globalization on the release of and exposure to pollutants; urban expansion and toxic exposures; …… In an ecosystem approach, this covers not only those involved in the conventional fields of environmental health and regulation of toxic substances, but also in research, policy and practice in such areas as: release of toxic substances from anthropogenic environmental degradation due to deforestation, mining, hydroelectric reservoirs, etc.; alternatives to pesticide use through an ecosystem understanding of insect-borne diseases and agrotoxics; increased pollution through climate change; consequences of globalization on the release of and exposure to pollutants; urban expansion and toxic exposures; ……

11. COPEH-TLAC to advance ecosystem approaches in research, policy and practice in the area of toxic exposures and human health by strengthening scientific capacities, communication and understanding targets researchers, policy makers and other stakeholders working towards the reduction of toxic exposures and improvement of human health regional and and horizontal structures and mandates to advance ecosystem approaches in research, policy and practice in the area of toxic exposures and human health by strengthening scientific capacities, communication and understanding targets researchers, policy makers and other stakeholders working towards the reduction of toxic exposures and improvement of human health regional and and horizontal structures and mandates

12. Vector-borne Diseases Pesticide use in agriculture Upscaling the Ecohealth Approach Economic Restructuring and Gender Mines and Heavy Metals Transversal themes Ecosystem Methodologies

13. Activities Organize regional and thematic workshops to integrate Ecohealth concepts and methods into on-going research projects and policy-making activities. Further thinking on ecosystem health in national, regional and international conferences Link to other networks Interactive website Organize regional and thematic workshops to integrate Ecohealth concepts and methods into on-going research projects and policy-making activities. Further thinking on ecosystem health in national, regional and international conferences Link to other networks Interactive website

14. Workshop: Researchers from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Panama met to integrate ecohealth methodologies into their on-going research Development of the website. Consolidation of a course on ecosystem approaches to human health in the Escuela de Verano del INSP Participating in meetings with health professionals and civil society organized by the Ministry of Health to integrate an ecosystem approach into Occupational and Environmental Health Services Integrating gender-based approaches into the on- going work of all of the nodes Establishing links with Networks with similar goals. Consolidating researcher-policy maker collaboration Examples of Nodal Activities

15. Costa Rica, April 2006 Brazil, May 2006 Peru, May 2006 Peru, January 2006 Andean Workshop Ecuador, September 2006 South Cone Workshop Chile, September 2006 Gender and Environment Mexico, October 2006 CAC workshop Dominican Republic November 2006 Meeting Agrotoxics Brazil, September 2006

17. methylmercury in fish deforestation, erosion & silting activities gold-mining mercury poisoning methylmercury exposure in humans migration & colonisation policies miners riverine settlers mercury mercury in water methylmercury poisoning agriculture slash & burn Gold market Ministry of HealthMinistry of Industry and Mines Ministry of Environment Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Housing Ministry of Health Ministry of Fisheries Ministry of Development Village authorities Municipal authorities Unions Informal structures NGOs

18. early changes in exposed groups illness Exposure dose A continuum of deterioration sub-clinical signs and symptoms in individuals