Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0056, USA.
J Occup Environ Med. 2009 Dec;51(12):1374-83. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181c558f1.
People living close to an environmental hazard site may suffer health harms from real or perceived contaminant exposures. In class-action litigation, medical monitoring is a potential remedy that has been allowed in some jurisdictions but not others. From 1952 to 1989, a US Department of Energy uranium metal plant near Fernald, Ohio, released ionizing radiation and uranium particulates into the surrounding community.
Settlement of litigation between nearby residents and the Department of Energy resulted in an 18-year medical monitoring program (N = 9775), which focused on general health promotion rather than effects of uranium.
Participation was higher than projected; decreases in common risk factors (cholesterol and blood pressure) and deaths from cancer have been observed.
These data support the appropriateness of comprehensive medical monitoring as a remedy for people affected by defined sources of environmental contaminants.
居住在环境危害场所附近的人可能会因实际或感知到的污染物暴露而遭受健康危害。在集体诉讼中，医疗监测是一种潜在的补救措施，在一些司法管辖区被允许，但在其他司法管辖区则不被允许。1952 年至 1989 年期间，美国能源部在俄亥俄州费尔南德附近的一家铀金属厂向周围社区释放电离辐射和铀颗粒。
附近居民与能源部之间的诉讼和解导致了一个为期 18 年的医疗监测计划（N=9775），该计划侧重于一般健康促进，而不是铀的影响。
参与率高于预期；常见风险因素（胆固醇和血压）的下降以及癌症死亡人数的下降已经观察到。
这些数据支持将全面医疗监测作为受特定环境污染物源影响人群的补救措施是恰当的。
