Chemical Weapons and public health: assessing impact and responses.
Chemical Weapons
Global Health
Halabja
Syria
health systems
public health
Journal
Journal of public health (Oxford, England)
ISSN: 1741-3850
Titre abrégé: J Public Health (Oxf)
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101188638
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
18 08 2020
18 08 2020
Historique:
pubmed:
6
12
2019
medline:
29
6
2021
entrez:
6
12
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The recent use of Chemical Weapons (CWs) in armed conflicts and terror attacks highlights the importance of understanding their full impact in order to inform an effective response. This article argues that while the consequences of CWs on individual health have dominated our understanding of the impact of these weapons, far less attention has been directed to their impact on public health. A review of the literature on the health impact of CWs was conducted, and two case studies of their use in urban settings were explored - Halabja in northern Iraq in 1988 and throughout Syria's ongoing conflict. The importance of considering the long-term health consequences of CW use and their impact on healthcare and health systems was demonstrated. This article highlights the importance of supporting future research on the topic and proposes a framework for assessing the public health impact of CW use.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
The recent use of Chemical Weapons (CWs) in armed conflicts and terror attacks highlights the importance of understanding their full impact in order to inform an effective response. This article argues that while the consequences of CWs on individual health have dominated our understanding of the impact of these weapons, far less attention has been directed to their impact on public health.
METHODS
A review of the literature on the health impact of CWs was conducted, and two case studies of their use in urban settings were explored - Halabja in northern Iraq in 1988 and throughout Syria's ongoing conflict.
RESULTS
The importance of considering the long-term health consequences of CW use and their impact on healthcare and health systems was demonstrated.
CONCLUSIONS
This article highlights the importance of supporting future research on the topic and proposes a framework for assessing the public health impact of CW use.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31804692
pii: 5658602
doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdz145
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e334-e342Informations de copyright
© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.