EXCEED THE SPACE PROVIDED. Work and Health in Mexico and Brazil Two of the most important public health problems facing developing nations in Latin America are the health of citizens and children working in the informal sector and the protection of both occupational and environmental health in the 'free-trade zones' sector of the globalizing economy (PAHO, 2000). Both these concerns have achieved high standing in national and regional priority assessment, however, the demand for professional research and practice personnel to address these concerns is well beyond available personnel with adequate advanced training. Mexico and Brazil are the two major economies in Latin America where these concerns are well represented. The maquiladora industry of Central Mexico has important differences from that along the northern border with the U.S. and requires different approaches both to evaluate impacts and consider alternatives that are sustainable (Cedillo, 1997). The widespread and multifaceted occupational health problems of work in the informal sector and especially the societal impact of children forming a significant part of that sector has important implications for the health of the workforce and the environment. The informal sector is both difficult to study and to serve as it falls outside the common government control and remediation systems provided to the formal, sector of the economy. Institutions of higher education in both countries are interested in developing the research and training capacity needed to reduce the disease and injury burden caused by the environmental and occupational health and safety impacts of these two concerns, while promoting a sustainable economy. The major goal of this proposal, therefore, is to develop environmental and occupational health centers of excellence in three universities in Latin America (two in Brasil one in Mexico). The centers will develop two general models of research and training: the first will address the challenge of environmental and occupational health consequences of work in the informal sector (including child labor) in Brasil. The second model will address the environmental and occupational health consequences of the 'free trade zone' production system in the Americas by examining the health impact in the non-U.S.- Mexico border Mexican maquiladora sector. PERFORMANCE SITE ========================================Section End===========================================
| Correa-Filho, Heleno Rodrigues; Cugliari, Luciana; Gaspar, Aide A Coelho Dos Santos et al. (2010) Epidemiological surveillance of informal workers' health in two cities in southeastern Brazil: the experience of the TRAPP-TRAPPURA projects. Int J Occup Environ Health 16:36-43 |
| da Silva, Marcelo C; Fassa, Anaclaudia G; Kriebel, David (2006) Musculoskeletal pain in ragpickers in a southern city in Brazil. Am J Ind Med 49:327-36 |
| da Silva, Marcelo Cozzensa; Fassa, Anaclaudia Gastal; Kriebel, David (2006) Minor psychiatric disorders among Brazilian ragpickers: a cross-sectional study. Environ Health 5:17 |
| da Silva, M C; Fassa, A G; Siqueira, C E et al. (2005) World at work: Brazilian ragpickers. Occup Environ Med 62:736-40 |
