Author:

• Marla Leci Weihs - Weihs, M. - Brasília, DF - Doutoranda do Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Universidade de Brasília – UnB e professora titular do Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Campus de Alta Floresta, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso – UNEMAT - <marlaweihs@gmail.com>

Co-author(s):

• Frédéric Mertens - Mertens, F - Professor do Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Universidade de Brasília; Pesquisador da Comunidad de Práctica sobre el Enfoque Ecossistémico en Salud Humana en la América Latina y el Caribe. (CoPEH-LAC) - <fmertens@unb.br>
ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1449-8140

Thematic Area:

Saúde e Ambiente

Abstract:

This article explores opportunities and limitations regarding knowledge generation in the field of environmental health. It argues that understanding the complexity of factors that determine human health and ecosystems demands redefinitions of traditional distribution of roles and responsibilities in scientific research. These research practices involve inter and transdisciplinarity perspectives and the application of an ecosystem approach (ecoheath). Challenges and opportunities associated to the application of inter and transdisciplinarity in environmental health problems are discussed and illustrated by two case studies that use an ecohealth approach: a project on the contamination and exposure to mercury in the Brazilian Amazon, and another on the urban transmission of echinococcosis in Nepal. We conclude by presenting the potential of using an ecohealth approach in overcoming the limitations of unidisciplinar practices and in taking advantage of local knowledge and participation.

Keywords:

interdisciplinarity transdisciplinarity ecosystem approach environmental health project CARUSO Kathmandu

Content:

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