Environmental and occupational health problems in Arab countries: needs and priorities

ABSTRACT

Industrialization in most Arab countries has led to a relative increase in the income per capita, improvement in nutrition and raising of the cultural levels, all of which can be powerful factors in enhancing the health status of the population. However, the adjustment to a new pattern of living that requires a rapid accommodation to mechanization and new industrial processes is associated with social and physiological stresses both inside and outside the work place. Problems facing people dealing with environmental and occupational health risk evaluation and management are many most of them are shared between our countries. The most important of these problems are risk perception, limited resources and lack of prioritization. For implementation of any environmental and occupational health risk management programme, coordination and cooperation within and among different Arab countries are needed for harmonizing such activities. Research, education training and legislations could be of the first items to be considered