Environmental risks to public health in the United Arab Emirates: a quantitative assessment and strategic plan.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Environmental risks to health in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have shifted rapidly from infectious to noninfectious diseases as the nation has developed at an unprecedented rate. In response to public concerns over newly emerging environmental risks, the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi commissioned a multidisciplinary environmental health strategic planning project.

Objectives

In order to develop the environmental health strategic plan, we sought to quantify the illnesses and premature deaths in the UAE attributable to 14 environmental pollutant categories, prioritize these 14 risk factors, and identify interventions.

Methods

We estimated the disease burden imposed by each risk factor using an attributable fraction approach, and we prioritized the risks usin

SUBMITTER: Gibson JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3346776 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature