Abstract

FREITAS, Carlos Machado de  and  AMORIM, Andréa Estevam. Environmental health surveillance of major chemical a ccidents in highway transport of hazardous materials. Inf. Epidemiol. Sus [online]. 2001, vol.10, n.1, pp.31-42. ISSN 0104-1673.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5123/S0104-16732001000100004.

Major chemical accidents in highway transport of hazardous materials have the potential of a multiplicity of damages to health and to the environment and are of Public Health concern. In Brazil the absence of basic information to evaluate the impact of these events on health is one of the limitations of the available data about highway transport of hazardous materials. As consequence, formulation of adequate and efficient public policies to prevent and control these types of accidents, involving health and environment sectors is limited. The objective of this article is to contribute to the building of the environmental health surveillance of these accidents. Based on the available information and on the characterization of these accidents referred in studies done in the United States, the problematic in Brazil is discussed. Basic elements for the urgent implementation of an environmental health surveillance of these accidents are pointed considering the Brazilian reality

Keywords : Highway Accident; Hazardous Materials Transportation; Environmental Health Surveillance; Chemical Accident.

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