2/2-Carribean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health: *

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine are collaboratively proposing to create the Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health (CCREOH). The consortium will focus on three high priority environmental and occupational health risks: 1) gold mining-related Hg contamination of indigenous food sources specifically fish; 2) access and use of pesticides in large and small-scale agriculture; and 3) environmental contamination of nutraceuticals and indigenous medicinal plants. An important aspect of CCREOH will be engaging the indigenous and other health disparate communities in characterizing, protecting and preserving the nutraceutical assets indigenous to this region. Aim 1: Characterize the key environmental and occupational (EOH) health risks associated with gold mining-related Hg contamination, pesticide use in agriculture, and indigenous nutraceutical contamination to inform a gap and opportunities assessments of relevant environmental policies in Suriname. Aim 2: Create a sustainable public health and EOH network to serve as the trans-disciplinary research and training hub for CCREOH. Aim 3: Develop a trans-disciplinary research roadmap to guide the consortium's environmental and occupational health research leveraging all consortium partner assets. Aim 4: Develop a capacity building portfolio including a regional EOH training program to successfully implement the priority areas articulated in the CCREOH research roadmap RELEVANCE TO PUBLIC HEALTH (provided by applicant): The overarching goal of the CCREOH is to address high priority environmental and occupational health risks in Suriname and those common to the increasingly vulnerable Caribbean region while preserving the unique assets, health and cultural traditions of indigenous- and other health disparate populations.