Development of a multidisciplinary plan for evaluation of the long-term health effects of the Mount St. Helens eruptions

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.76.Suppl.39· OSTI ID:7193309

Buist, A S; Martin, T R; Shore, J H; Butler, J; Lybarger, J A

The emphasis of this article is on the approach that was taken to evaluating the chronic or delayed effects of the volcanic eruptions of Mount St. Helens in 1980. This strategy has been very successful and may be useful as a model for addressing the possible health effects of other environmental hazards. The steps in this process were: 1) identification of the physical and physicochemical characteristics of the hazard; 2) formation of hypotheses about biologically plausible effects of the hazard on human health; and 3) development of a plan for evaluating the health effects and, were possible, for controlling or minimizing adverse health effects. The third step involved a multidisciplinary group that included public health officials, medical specialists, and research scientists, including a geologist.

• Research Organization: Oregon Health Sciences Univ., Portland
• OSTI ID: 7193309
• Resource Relation: Journal Volume: 76:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
VOLCANOES
HEALTH HAZARDS
AIR POLLUTION
ASHES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
ERUPTION
EVALUATION
HUMAN POPULATIONS
LATENCY PERIOD
MT ST HELENS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANNING
PUBLIC HEALTH
CASCADE MOUNTAINS
FEDERAL REGION X
HAZARDS
MOUNTAINS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
RESIDUES
USA
WASHINGTON
560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
552000 - Public Health
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)