Public Health - When a client needs to understand whether and possibly how their chemical product(s) are related to a community health concern, one avenue investigators from The Sapphire Group may explore is a public health assessment. This process will ascertain the weight of evidence for existence of symptoms in susceptible populations and determine the distribution of susceptibility sub populations. Our extensive on-site experience gives clients assurance that we will evaluate all relevant factors.

Our Public Health Investigations:

• Determine nature and extent of exposure through water, air, soil and foods
• Analyze multiple pathways of exposure
• Characterize populations (size, susceptibility) and their behaviors that influence exposures
• Identify short-term and long-term health effects
• Research and develop exposure limits Investigate local morbidity and mortality rates (site-specific epidemiology)
• Perform medical surveillance, treatment assistance, and follow-up

Combined with personal observations, we develop and analyze past, current, and potential future human pathways.

Performed by our staff of expert investigators, our public health assessments include five phases:

• collection, analysis, and interpretation of relevant data;
• identification and verification of community health concerns;
• examination of hospital-and clinic-based health outcome data;
• assistance in medical surveillance and follow-up; and
• evaluation of cause-effect relationships.

The Sapphire Group works in accordance with guidance of major scientific organizations such as the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and international guidelines from the World Health Organization, the International Programme on Chemical Safety, the United Nations Environmental Programme for rapid response actions, incident investigations, and follow-up studies.