This article emphasizes the fact that epidemiologic studies on the relationship between health and the environment necessarily need more diverse and complex methodologies than other areas of Public Health. This thought also applies to the development of preventive actions and interventions. Information on the characteristics of exposure and outcome is the main substratum that defines the design and feasibility of epidemiologic studies and surveillance actions. Epidemiology also contributes for the methodological elements for risk assessment proposed by institutions that deal with Environmental Health. In this manner, given the great complexity of studying those topics, epidemiologic studies demand an integrated theoretical-conceptual vision of the health/environment binomial in order to produce knowledge and environmental surveillance actions in health; a work that contemplates, in addition to community participation, the articulation of different disciplines and institutions; the adherence to ethical principles; and the definition of human resources for establishing scientific and technical teams.
Epidemiology; Environmental Health; Methods; Surveillance; Monitoring; Risk Assessment
