European toxicological centres and European project ASHT (Alerting system for chemists health threats)
Abstract
The European Union Public Health Programme funded a project (completed September 2008) to develop an Alerting System and Health surveillance system for the deliberate release of chemicals by Terrorists’ (ASHT I). The project established a Rapid Alert System for CHEMical incidents (RAS-CHEM) based on protocols and operating procedures originally developed for the EC Early Warning and Response System for Communicable Diseases (EWRS).
ASHT I established the concept of setting up a rapid alert system and envisaged the structure required for a successful rapid Alerting System for chemical Health Threats (ASHT II). This second phase of the project will improve upon the current data transfer systems and information sharing and will involve developing mechanisms (and strategies) for analysing and reporting information between health professionals, from poisons centres to national public health officials.