The health impact assessment of development projects

The sustainability of development can only be ensured if the full range of potential impacts is appraised efficiently. Most development projects, from whatever sector, are expected to have a beneficial effect on human health by increasing the resources available for food, education, employment, water supplies, sanitation, and health services. This book is concerned exclusively with the non-health sectors, in which health impacts are an indirect consequence of the development. It seeks to provide an operational procedure with which to appraise health impact using a classification scheme for projects and for the range of health problems. The main steps included in health impact assessment are: identification of health hazards, interpretation as health risks, and management of health risks. The operational procedures are initial screening of the project for health hazards; initial health examination, or rapid appraisal; health impact assessment; and proposals for health risk management. This book focuses on project aid, rather than programme aid, where there is a change in the physical environment. Health impact assessment is seen as a component of environmental impact assessment. The book targets the main development sectors such as transport and communication, mining, energy, renewable natural resources, public services and manufacture and trade. The focus of the method outlined in the book is rural/natural resource development rather than urban/industrial projects. The emphasis is on the rural poor - following them into their new urban environment and drawing attention to the health hazards they face in poorly regulated industries and settlements. A complete exercise in rapid health impact assessment and an extensive glossary are also included.