Περίληψη:
Background: Management of environmental health issues is an integral
part of public health systems. An active integrated environmental health
surveillance and response system was developed for the Athens Olympics
to monitor and prevent exposure to environmental hazards. The potential
for permanent implementation of the program was examined.
Methods: The environmental health surveillance and response system
included standardization, computerization and electronic transmission of
data concerning environmental inspections of 17 site categories (
restaurants, swimming pools etc) of public health interest, drinking and
recreational water examinations and suggested corrective actions. The
Olympic Planning Unit integrated and centrally managed data from 13
public health agencies, recommended, supervised and coordinated prompt
corrective actions. Methods used to test the effectiveness of the
program were the assessment of water quality test and inspection results
trends over time using linear regression and epidemiological
surveillance findings.
Results: Between January 2003 and September the 30th, 2004, 196
inspectors conducted 8562 inspections, collected 5024 water samples and
recommended 17 027 corrective actions. In 10 cruise ships used as
floating hotels inspectors conducted 10 full inspections, 2
re-inspections, and 27 follow-up inspections. Unsatisfactory inspection
results ( r = 0.44, p < 0.0001) and positive water quality tests ( r =
0.39, p < 0.001) presented an overall decrease trend over time. In
August, 2003, an outbreak of salmonellosis was linked to a hotel
restaurant which accommodated athletes during a test event.
Conclusion: Lessons learned for future events include timely
implementation and installation of communication processes, and rapid
and coordinated response to unsatisfactory inspection results. Routine
national programs need to adopt enhanced environmental health
surveillance aimed at public health decision-making, but with a
different perspective.
Συγγραφείς:
Hadjichristodoulou, Christos
Mouchtouri, Varvara
Vaitsi,
Vasiliki
Kapoula, Christina
Vousoureli, Anastasia
Kalivitis,
Isidiros
Chervoni, Julia
Papastergiou, Panagiotis and
Vasilogiannakopoulos, Antonios
Daniilidis, Vasilis D. and
Kremastinou, Jenny
