The Ministry of Environment (MOE) holds the 2nd International Seminar for Children’s Environmental Health at ECC Theatre, Ewha Womans University from May 8 to 9, inviting experts on children’s environmental health at home and abroad, including the United States, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Japan.
The seminar is held under the theme of establishing and developing advanced birth cohort study on children’s environmental health. Domestic and overseas environmental health experts will share their experiences and know-how on birth cohort focused on children’s environmental health and find ways to further Korea’s children’s environmental health policies.
Since a Declaration on Children’s Health and Environment which suggests the impact of environmental destruction on children and presents improvement measures was announced at G8 Environment Ministers Meeting in 1997, major advanced countries such as the United States, Denmark and Norway have conducted a large-scale birth cohort study with a sample size of 100,000.
At the seminar, the speakers will introduce the background, the role of the government in conducting cohort study and expected results and have discussion with panelists and audiences about cohort study. Through in-depth discussion, MOE expects to learn lessons from other countries’ experiences and develop environmental health birth cohort study tailored to Korea’s circumstances.
At the Session Ⅰon the 8th, Dr. Marike, Kolossa-Gehring from Germany, Dr. Per Magnus from Norway, Dr. Mads Melbye from Denmark and Dr. Shoji Nakayama from Japan give presentations on the background and status of birth cohort study in their countries.
At the Session Ⅱ, a speaker delivers a presentation on research planning for children’s environmental health through the Korean birth cohort study and designated discussion is held on establishment and development plan of the Korean birth cohort.
At the Session Ⅲ on the 9th, presentations and discussion on the expected effects and policy implication of the birth cohort through research results will be held.
MOE expects that the international seminar will serve as an opportunity to raise awareness on children’s environmental health and facilitate cooperation at home and abroad for the children’s environmental health study.