Enander Richard T, Gute David M, Cohen Howard J
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, 235 Promenade Street (Suite 250), Providence, RI 02908-5767, USA.
Am J Ind Med. 2003 Sep;44(3):312-20. doi: 10.1002/ajim.10261.
Occupational health and pollution prevention, although conceptually linked by the common goals of preventing exposure to toxic materials and lowering risk functions, have been largely confined to separate patterns of practice and professional development. Some analysts see this as a missed opportunity for synergy and raising the level of protection afforded to both the worker and the ambient environment. By using current specific examples we show how strategies that integrate pollution prevention and occupational health practices can be effective at reducing chemical exposures and environmental releases beyond the levels normally achieved using traditional methods alone.
Similarities in approaches to addressing chemical hazards at the source, are analyzed in the context of U.S. policy and recent state and federal initiatives. Results obtained from the analysis of multi-pathway risks found within the automotive refinishing sector serve as examples of how best to select engineering and control strategies.
Industry survey, metal speciation, and methylene chloride usage data from studies conducted in Rhode Island, coupled with case reports from other settings, demonstrate that opportunities exist to concurrently mitigate multiple environmental and occupational health hazards.
The collaborative initiatives undertaken in the automotive refinishing industry sector demonstrate that an integrated environmental and occupational health approach can more effectively address multiple chemical releases and workplace exposures. Such synergy should be advanced in the future by similar integrative and collaborative strategies.
职业健康与污染预防，尽管在预防接触有毒物质和降低风险功能的共同目标上存在概念上的联系，但在很大程度上局限于各自独立的实践模式和专业发展。一些分析人士认为这是错失了协同增效以及提高对工人和周围环境保护水平的机会。通过使用当前的具体实例，我们展示了将污染预防与职业健康实践相结合的策略如何能够有效地减少化学物质暴露和环境排放，且其减少程度超过仅使用传统方法通常所能达到的水平。
在美国政策以及近期州和联邦举措的背景下，分析在源头解决化学危害的方法中的相似之处。从汽车修补漆行业内多途径风险分析中获得的结果用作如何最佳选择工程和控制策略的示例。
来自罗德岛进行的研究中的行业调查、金属形态分析和二氯甲烷使用数据，以及其他环境的案例报告表明，存在同时减轻多种环境和职业健康危害的机会。
汽车修补漆行业开展的合作举措表明，综合环境与职业健康方法能够更有效地应对多种化学物质排放和工作场所暴露。未来应通过类似的综合与合作策略推动这种协同增效。
