DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR OCEAN AND HUMAN HEALTH ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH HABS, MICROBES AND CONTAMINANTS OF EMERGING CONCERN

Geoffrey Scott1, Dwayne E. Porter2,3, George Bullerjahn4, Daniela Friedman3, Heath Kelsey5, Michael Parsons6, Mindy Richlen7, Paul A. Sandifer8, John Stegeman9 and Heather Triezenberg10, (1)University of South Carolina, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, NIEHS Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions, Columbia, SC, United States, (2)University of South Carolina, Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health and the NIEHS Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions, Columbia, SC, United States, (3)University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health and the NIEHS Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions, Columbia, SC, United States, (4)Bowling Green State University and and the Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health, Biological Sciences, Bowling Green, OH, United States, (5)University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the NIEHS Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions, Cambridge, MD, United States, (6)Florida Gulf Coast University and the Greater Caribbean Center for Ciguatera Research, The Water School, Fort Myers, FL, United States, (7)Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Center for Oceans and Human Health, Biology, Woods Hole, MA, United States, (8)College of Charleston, Center for Coastal Environmental and Human Health and the NIEHS Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions, Charleston, SC, United States, (9)Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Center for Oceans and Human Health, Woods Hole, MA, United States, (10)Michigan State University and the Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health, East Lansing, MI, United States
Abstract:
The “One Health” concept recognizes that the health of people is connected to the health of nature, animals and the environment. It is a collaborative, multi-sectoral, and transdisciplinary approach—working at the local to global levels—with the goal of optimizing health outcomes by increasing our understanding of the interconnections among people, animals, plants, and their shared environment. Traditionally scientists have focused on the impact of man on the health of the oceans, but more recently scientists have realized that “unhealthy” ocean environments may adversely affect human health. Thus was born the concept of Oceans and Human Health (OHH), a prime example of “One Health”. Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), infectious microbes and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are significant factors affecting the health and well-being of both freshwater and coastal communities as people, pets, domestic animals, and terrestrial as well as aquatic wildlife may all be affected. Current OHH research is dynamic and complex, requiring significant translation of highly technical findings into effective messaging so that the public, fishery managers, and others can better understand hazards associated with exposure to these stressors and better manage public health and natural resource risks. The NSF and NIEHS have created 4 National OHH Centers, which conduct significant research on HABs, microbes and CECs. Each OHH Center also has a Community Engagement Core that works with OHH researchers to more effectively engage federal, state and local resource and public health managers, community organizations, and other stakeholders to more effectively translate research findings to a wide and diverse public audience. These OHH Centers met in October, 2019 and developed an Integrated Community Engagement Plan for HABs, microbes and CECS, which will be presented and includes strategies and tools for better engaging the public on a diversity of OHH issues such as contact recreation, seafood consumption and inhalation or air-borne toxins to better protect health.
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