Emerging issues in the Pacific Basin

This review provides a snapshot of some key environmental health issues that will provide ongoing challenges for the Pacific Basin region in the coming decades. It is clear that climate change as well as the rapidly increasing production of environmental pollutants are significant emerging environmental health issues. To date, research in these areas is limited, and the consequences of potential changes in disease vector distribution, disease outbreaks associated with climate change-induced severe weather events, and the consequences of chronic exposure to engineered nanoparticles and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), particularly in children, remain to be determined. Clearly, any progress in (i) predicting the outcomes of potential environmental health issues in the future, (ii) identifying subpopulations (at local, national, and international levels) that are at risk, and (iii) establishing measures to limit the impact of these issues in terms of public health, will require a coordinated effort from scientists, epidemiologists, monitoring agencies, governments, and aid agencies.