The systematic and long-term efforts to protect the environment may be successful also in the country in the period of transition from centrally planned to free market economies. The basic requirement is to disseminate reliable information on the exposure levels and expected health effects. The need for high quality information underscores the importance of the quality assurance and quality control systems in the context of good laboratory as well as epidemiologic practices. Each monitoring study should be planned in the way facilitating its use for the evaluation of long-term trends. Besides scientific issues, the communication of risks is of crucial importance. According to our experience, only an involvement of formal as well as informal local authorities and co-operation between all relevant stakeholders can ensure the success.

The National Institute of Public Health Prague Czech Republic