The Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health (CCREOH)

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine high-priority environmental and occupational health (EOH) risks in Suriname and those common to the increasingly vulnerable Caribbean region. DESIGN AND METHODS: Multi-pronged needs assessments were conducted to document baseline capacity levels and community needs focused upon health outcome data, laboratory capacity, training programs, and environmental health policy. EOH research included determining gold mining-related mercury contamination; assessment of occupational and community risks for agriculturally related pesticides; and analysis of medicinal plants and nutriceuticals. RESULTS: EOH policies in Suriname and other Caribbean countries are either absent, or where present, not enforced. Mercury contamination had been confirmed in fish species, sediment, and communities near gold-mining areas but there were also indications that climate change may have influenced mercury deposition in non-gold mining areas. Produce analyses for key pesticides used in agriculture showed the presence of banned pesticides at levels above the WHO Maximum Residual Levels. Mobile health technology-enabled and competency–trained Community Health Workers assisted their community in identifying key pesticide use–related concerns and messages to promote safe pesticide use. CONCLUSION: The overarching significance of the CCREOH preliminary studies has been to gain insight into the major EOH issues Suriname is facing. Knowledge of the mercury-related contamination of the country’s estuaries and contamination of agriculture products with pesticide residues provide evidence-based direction for future EOH research. Assessing the healing properties of medicinal plants and nutriceuticals has the potential to advance knowledge in a culturally competent manner. CARPHA plays a key role in CCREOH’s policy translation and research dissemination.