What Risk Assessments of Genetically Modified Organisms Can Learn from Institutional Analyses of Public Health

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Review Article What Risk Assessments of Genetically Modified Organisms Can Learn from Institutional Analyses of Public Health Risks S. Ravi Rajan and Deborah K. Letourneau Department of Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95006, USA Correspondence should be addressed to S. Ravi Rajan, srrajan@ucsc.edu and Deborah K. Letourneau, dletour@ucsc.edu Received 29 March 2012; Revised 22 May 2012; Accepted 12 July 2012 Academic Editor: Joel W. Ochieng Copyright © 2012 S. R. Rajan and D. K. Letourneau. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The risks of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are evaluated traditionally by combining hazard identification and exposure estimates to provide decision support for regulatory agencies. We question the utility of the classical risk paradigm and discuss its evolution in GMO risk assessment. First, we consider the problem of uncertainty, by comparing risk assessment for environmental toxins in the public health domain with genetically modified organisms in the environment; we use the specific comparison of an insecticide to a transgenic, insecticidal food crop. Next, we examine normal accident theory (NAT) as a heuristic to consider runaway effects of GMOs, such as negative community level consequences of gene flow from transgenic, insecticidal crops. These examples illustrate how risk assessments are made more complex and contentious by both their inherent uncertainty and the inevitability of failure beyond expectation in complex systems. We emphasize the value of conducting decision-support research, embracing uncertainty, increasing transparency, and building interdisciplinary institutions that can address the complex interactions between ecosystems and society. In particular, we argue against black boxing risk analysis, and for a program to educate policy makers about uncertainty and complexity, so that eventually, decision making is not the burden that falls upon scientists but is assumed by the public at large

sexually transmitted disease (STD) policy in Louisiana

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Using the Internet, research on a sexually transmitted disease (STD) policy in Louisiana. Once you identify an STD policy from the state you reside in, visit your state health department or browse your state’s website and search for the STD policy you selected.

Next, write a research paper describing this public health policy analysis and background. The final paper should include the following:

  • A title page
  • An introduction of policy analysis in two to three paragraphs discussing the following:
    • Overview
    • Purpose
  • A body
    • Health policy background (one page):
      • The state’s role in the policy-making process
      • The purpose of public health policy
    • Public health policy analysis five-step process discussing the following:
      • A problem statement (in the form of a question) (two paragraphs)
      • Background of a policy analysis provides factual information needed to understand the problem. Include economic issues of policy as well as regulatory policy (two pages).
      • The landscape section of a policy analysis identifies key stakeholders and describes the factors that are needed to analyze the problem. Write the landscape section on policy analysis. Include balance of patient rights versus protecting the population. Include any influence from government insurance programs. Your response should be of at least three pages.
      • Options (three or four) to address the policy problem. Your response should be of at least three pages.
      • Recommendations section should clearly identify three options. Which of the three options is favored and why is it is preferred over the other ones. Your response should be of at least one page.
  • A conclusion
    • Your conclusion (one page) should address the following main points:
      • Your recommendation and the reasoning behind it.
      • Summarize your findings.
      • Explain the barriers to implementing policy analysis process and how they could be overcome.

Your paper should be a minimum of 12- to 13-pages in a Microsoft Word document. You need a minimum of six scholarly sources for both in-text citations and citations on the reference page. Support your work, with examples and APA formatted in-text citations. Again, cite your sources in your work and provide references for the citations in APA format.

 

Support your responses with reasoning and examples.

Cite any sources in APA format.

Outline and discuss three public health strategies, which could be formulated and implemented in a named jurisdiction at a population level to prevent overweight and obesity in children

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public health homework

The Secretary for Food and Health and Director of Health have advised the Chief Executive of Hong Kong that urgent effective multi-sectoral interventions are required to address the escalating problem of overweight primary and secondary school children. The Chief Executive insists that the food and drinks industry are involved and consulted in this process.

Outline and discuss three public health strategies, which could be formulated and implemented in a named jurisdiction at a population level to prevent overweight and obesity in children. Evaluate the utility of these strategies by contrasting evidence of the acceptability, efficiency and equity of each. (700 words) 

public health homework

The Secretary for Food and Health and Director of Health have advised the Chief Executive of Hong Kong that urgent effective multi-sectoral interventions are required to address the escalating problem of overweight primary and secondary school children. The Chief Executive insists that the food and drinks industry are involved and consulted in this process .Outline and discuss three public health strategies, which could be formulated and implemented in a named jurisdiction at a population level to prevent overweight and obesity in children. Evaluate the utility of these strategies by contrasting evidence of the acceptability, efficiency and equity of each. (700 words) 

Examine the direct and indirect impact on immediate- and long-term public health.

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Using the readings for this module, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, respond to the following:

 

  • Choosing one nation from the higher percentage and one from the lower percentage, identify a minimum of two of their environmental problems that can be linked to their mortality rates.
  • Examine any similarities between their environmental problems and those in your neighborhood.

 

Support your statements with scholarly references and appropriate examples.

 

Write your initial response in a minimum of 350 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.

 

Recent environmental disasters have significantly impacted the human population in multiple ways. In this assignment, you will identify a recent environmental disaster and discuss potential correlated health impacts.

 

Begin this assignment by identifying one recent example of an environmental disaster. For example, the BP oil spill or the earthquakes in Haiti or Japan.

 

Using the readings for this module, the Argosy University online resources, and the Internet, write a research paper including the following:

 

  • Provide a description of the environmental event/disaster you have identified. Include the following points:
    • Consider if the event was caused by humans or natural.
    • Examine the direct and indirect impact on immediate- and long-term public health.
    • Identify data regarding mortality and/or morbidity outcomes, if available.
    • Explain the geographical impact with respect to health. Also consider the number of lives lost, environmental damage, economic fallout, and long-term repercussions or impact.
    • Examine the research on the likelihood of this event recurring.
  • Identify and describe the immediate- and long-term emergency response plans and efforts to the disaster you have selected. Be sure to identify which groups, organizations, and/or governments led or are leading the response efforts and the various players who participated or are participating in this response.
  • Examine the lessons learned from previous responses to similar disasters. List at least three recommendations for protecting public health from a recurrence and/or the aftermath of similar disasters in the future.