MRC/DH Centre for Environment and Health

环境可能对我们的健康产生影响，这是公众和公众健康的重大担忧。长期接触环境中的潜在有毒物质是现代生活的一个事实。环境中的化学物质和其他物理因素被认为在一定程度上促成了各种儿童和慢性疾病的发生，包括生殖影响(如低出生体重、死胎和先天畸形的发生)、胸部和心脏问题以及几种癌症。如果我们要了解环境中的污染物影响健康的机制，就需要一种新的方法，将对大量人群的流行病学研究与毒理学研究结合起来。拟建的中心将由帝国理工学院(牵头机构)和伦敦国王S学院联合举办，采用了这种综合和多学科的方法。它涉及环境、呼吸和空气污染流行病学、毒理学、暴露模型、生物统计学和血液或尿液中存在的生物标记物(可能表明暴露于特定污染物的水平和可能的早期生物影响)方面的领先科学家。我们将整合来自个人和人们生活地区的信息，以研究环境暴露与健康之间的关系。我们将结合使用先进的地理信息系统(地理信息系统)和统计建模技术，与实验数据、生物标志物分析、机理研究和大规模人口队列分析相结合。我们的目标包括研究和培训。该中心的研究及其应用将包括：a)方法开发，涉及空间和统计建模以及环境毒理学和机制；b)通过两个综合研究主题调查环境与健康方面的优先问题：环境污染物的来源和排放的健康影响，包括来自受污染土地、主要工业来源、农业和供水的化学品的混合物，以及不同污染物的综合影响；以及空气污染与健康，包括空气污染、污染物混合物和过敏原对心肺问题的短期、中期和长期影响；c)改善将这项研究转化为环境健康政策的科学基础。培训方案将支持一项广泛的短期课程、硕士课程、三年和四年制博士课程以及初级和高级研究人员辅导方案，目的是培养环境健康领域的下一代研究人员和研究带头人。

There are major public and public health concerns about the effects that the environment may be having on our health. Chronic exposure to potentially toxic substances in the environment is a fact of modern life. Chemicals and other physical agents in the environment are thought to contribute, in part, to the occurrence of various childhood and chronic diseases including reproductive effects (such as low birth weight, still birth and occurrence of congenital anomalies), chest and heart problems, and several cancers. A new approach is needed which combines epidemiological studies of large groups of people with toxicological studies if we are to understand the mechanisms by which pollutants in the environment affect health. The proposed Centre, to be held jointly between Imperial College (lead institution) and King?s College London, adopts such an integrated and multidisciplinary approach. It involves leading scientists in environmental, respiratory and air pollution epidemiology, toxicology, exposure modelling, biostatistics and research on biomarkers present in blood or urine (which may indicate levels of exposure to specific polluatants and possible early biological effects). We will integrate information from both individuals and areas where people live to look at the relations between environmental exposures and health. We will combine the use of advanced geographical information systems (GIS) and statistical modelling techniques, with experimental data, analysis of biomarkers, mechanistic studies and analyses of large population cohorts. Our aims encompass both research and training. Research in the Centre and its application will include a) methods development, involving spatial and statistical modelling and environmental toxicology and mechanisms; b) investigation of priority questions in environment and health, through two integrated research themes: health effects of sources and emissions of environmental contaminants, including mixtures of chemicals from contaminated land, major industrial sources, agriculture and the water supply, and combined effects of different pollutants; and air pollution and health, including short-, medium- and long-term effects of air pollution, pollutant mixtures, and allergens on both heart and lung problems; c) improving the science base underlying the translation of this research into environmental health policy. The training programme will support an extensive programme of short courses, Masters courses, 3- and 4-year PhD studentships, and mentoring of junior and senior researchers, with the aim of fostering the next generation of researchers and research leaders in environmental health.