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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Salman Zarka, MD, MPH¹, Nadav Davidovitch, MD, MPH, PhD², Livnat Edri³, Andrei Chorin, DVM³, Gil Tzabari³, Ran Balicer, MD, MPH³, and Omer Ankol, MD, MPH⁴. (1) Army Health Branch and Haifa University School of Public Health, Medical Corps, IDF and Haifa University, 02149, Tel Hashomer, Israel, 972-3-7376340, salman-zarka@bezeqint.net, (2) Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 9th floor, New York, NY 10032, (3) Army Health Branch, Medical Corps, IDF, 02149, Tel Hashomer, Israel, (4) Occupational Health Branch, Medical Corps, IDF, 02149, Tel Hashomer, Israel

Background: Following an Israeli Investigation Committee who studied the influence of diving in polluted water, the Israeli Defense Force was asked to map all environmental health risk for training soldiers.

Objectives: 1. To make all known environmental risk factors, available to Israeli Army field commanders 2. To train according to limits resulting from these risk factors, thus protecting soldiers' health.

Methods: We mapped all the environmental risks factors which are known in Israel. The data concerning these factors was collected from various sources (e.g. governmental offices, public corporations). Expert committees translated the data into guidelines, addressed to army commanders in familiar language. Simultaneously, more detailed data for medical staff was prepared. Risk factors and guidelines were visualized on an Israeli State map using G.I.S. technology. Every risk factor was included into one layer of the map.

Results: 22 G.I.S. layers were built, which included various environmental hazards ranging from antennas, contaminated soil, to various infectious diseases. All layers were arranged into a HAZARDS MAP sited on a military intranet available to all soldiers.

Conclusions: A passive approach of addressing environmental health problems only after their occurrence was replaced by an active method, meaning that soldiers can train in an area only after learning about its risk factors and understanding the limitations. The information about the environmental risks is available on an accessible GIS map to commanders in the field. Further implementations of the map to the civilian sector should be considered in the future.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe the HAZARDS MAP.
• Recognize the importance of GIS technology in promoting envinmental health.
• Discuss the possibilities of interactions and sharing data among various sectors in society in order to promote environmental health.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation