The development of environmental related health surveillance system in Rayong pollution control zone

Abstract

Adverse health effects, caused by environmental or industrial pollution, are increasing. Situated in one of high risk areas, Rayong provincial public health office has, thus, developed an environmental-related health surveillance system in pollution control zone  to monitor this trend. The surveillance system comprises of three components: 1) I dentification critical environmental pollutants. 2) Identification of environmental health indicators. 3) Development of passive environment-related health surveillance system at district level. The development of environmental related health surveillance system revealed that major pollution problems in Rayong province were air contamination of  VOCs and PM10 which could lead to respiratory diseases, central nervous system diseases and allergies. Consequently, the researcher team develops health surveillance system. The three health indicators selected were respiratory systems diseases, allergic rhinitis and asthma. Data were collected from patients attending Rayong, Maptaphud, Banchang and Bankhai hospitals. Data were analyzed at district level and disseminated to all health promoting hospitals in each district. In the future, these health data will be monitored weekly to observe and control adverse health effects. Meanwhile, historical data showed specific relationship between health status of residents living in the pollution control zone and  pollution. Furthermore, this surveillance system is expected to be useful for other pollution affected areas and to be linked to database of healthcare systems at all levels.