11. Socially-Mediated Linkages between Resource Depletion and Health

BREAKOUT SESSION SUMMARY AND AGENDA

Thursday, February 1, 2007, from 1:30-5:00 pm

Session Chair and Point of Contact: Tee Guidotti, Chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University; Ph: 202 994-1765; email: eohtlg@gwumc.edu
 
Summary: 
This session looks at how socially-mediated linkages to resource depletion, consequent human behavior, public loss of confidence, and perception of risk create a "third category" of environmental problem separate from toxics and direct ecosystem effects that threaten human health.  For example, when the North Atlantic cod fishery collapsed in 1990s as a result of fishing, communities that were dependent upon fishing have suffered a cascade of interrelated environmental, economic, social and health consequences. These include unemployment, alcoholism, depression, spousal abuse, and other problems that are often not recognized as having environmental causes.  This session will identify examples of other such linkages, identify research needed to better understand the linkages, and mechanisms to educate decision makers about the unintended consequences of resource depletion.