1. Research Agenda
for Children
E. van Deventer
Radiation programme
HSE/PHE/IHE
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2. WHO's 6 core functions
1. Articulate ethical and evidence-based policy positions
2. Setting norms and standards, and promoting and monitoring their
implementation
3. Shaping the research agenda, and stimulating the generation,
translation and dissemination of valuable knowledge
4. Providing technical support, catalysing change and developing
sustainable institutional capacity
5. Monitoring the health situation and assessing health trends
6. Providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in
partnerships where joint action is needed
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3. Research in a World Health Report
 Under the theme Research for
Health, the World Health Report
2012 will discuss the impact of
conducting and translating
health research.
research
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5. Children
 Children represent our future, with over 2.2 billion worldwide
(aged 0-19)
 However, each year, at least 3 million children under the age of
five die due to environment-related diseases
 Children in many countries still face the major traditional
environmental hazards (including unsafe water, contaminated
food, injuries, air pollution, …)
 Other children live in environments that are vastly different from
those of generations ago. In particular, they are exposed to new
exposures (new technologies)
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9. RF Research Agenda (2010)
 Epidemiology: prospective cohort
studies of children and adolescents
(include behavioural and neurological
disorders and cancer)
 Human studies: further
provocation studies on RF EMF effects in
children of different ages
 Animal studies: effects of early-life
and prenatal exposure on development
and behaviour
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10. UV: An environmental risk !!
Science
Risk Assessment
1979
1982
1994
Public Awareness
Risk Perception and
Policies
communication Risk Management
2006
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12. World Health Organization
Recommendations for Health Ministries
 Governments should consider
comprehensive legislation governing the
operation of sunbeds
 Any legislation should be legally binding
and be capable of local enforcement
 Reduce access to sunbeds for those under
the age of 18
 Reduce numbers of self-service tanning
parlours
www.who.int/uv
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13. IARC Working Group Report
Exposure to Artificial UV Radiation and Skin Cancer (2006)
www.iarc.fr
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14. IARC Monograph vol. 100
 Review of all carcinogenic agents
 Hazard classification (whether an
agent is capable of causing cancer
under some circumstances)
 Vol 100 D on Radiation (Lyon, June
1-9, 2009)
 Summary and conclusions in The
Lancet Oncology, Vol 10 August 2009,
Special Report: Policy.
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16. Purpose of WHO Research Agendas
 To promote research areas that have relevance to public health,
and can
– reduce scientific uncertainties: health effects research
– respond to public concern through better risk communication: social science
research
"HEALTH is a state of COMPLETE physical, mental and social well-
being and not merely the ABSENCE of disease or infirmity"
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17. Relevant Topics
 Health effects research
– epidemiology
– human studies
– animal studies
– cell studies
– mechanisms of interaction
– dosimetry and exposure assessment
 Social science research
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18. Radiation
Public Health Public Concern
EMF
UV
Radon X-rays
X-rays Radon
UV
EMF
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