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Challenges in Environmental Health Research and Sustainability in a Less Developed Country: a Case Study From Jordan

  • Ethics and Policy (M Tondel, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Environmental Health Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Environmental health research covers many aspects of the complex natural world and how environmental hazards, mainly caused by human activities, can affect population health. Researchers in this field have investigated environmental risks dose or exposure-response relationship, challenged hypotheses and interpreted data and results to solve problems. Researchers investigating environmental issues support the concept of environmental justice (EJ) and understand that they bear more responsibilities because they work to influence the policymakers’ decisions in order to minimise hazardous exposure on populations. The environmental justice term has been widely used to describe unequal exposure of anthropogenic pollution or environmentally hazardous exposure to a group of people based on race, colour, national origin or income. The term has been defined and disseminated in many countries through governmental and non-governmental organisations. In Jordan, the government has carried the responsibilities to reduce the disproportionate exposure to environmental pollution between citizens and to promote the concepts of EJ. This review has highlighted the role of non-governmental organisations and the laws and regulations that prohibit assault to the environment and ensure the compliance of private and public organisations to minimise the effect of the undesirable environmental actions. Moreover, it addressed and discussed different possible sources of pollution and areas of heavy hazards exposure.

Recent Findings

In this review, we highlighted the main causes of lack of research on the EJ in Jordan and the effect of income and ethnicity background.

Summary

We also recommended applying the responsible conduct of research principles and guidelines to commence researches that can affect policymakers in this field in Jordan.

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Acknowledgements

Mr. Ahmad is a participant in the Research Ethics Education Program in Jordan supported by grant #5R25TW010026-02 from the Fogarty International Centre of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research and Innovation Centre, The Jordanian Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company (PLC), Naour, Amman, 11710, Jordan

    Mohammad I. Ahmad

  2. Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, Ministry of Environment, Amman, Jordan

    Jabour Daradkeh

  3. The Centre for Environmental Health Action (CEHA), WHO, Amman, Jordan

    Mazen Malkawi

  4. Division of Global Health, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Wael K. Al Delaimy

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  1. Mohammad I. Ahmad
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  2. Jabour Daradkeh
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  3. Mazen Malkawi
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  4. Wael K. Al Delaimy
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Correspondence to Mohammad I. Ahmad.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Ahmad, M.I., Daradkeh, J., Malkawi, M. et al. Challenges in Environmental Health Research and Sustainability in a Less Developed Country: a Case Study From Jordan. Curr Envir Health Rpt 6, 327–337 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-019-00248-2

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