Community-Led Monitoring (CLM): A Participatory Model for Environmental Justice in Post-Industrial Bahia
1
2 Secretaria Municipal de Saúde do Município de Salvador, Salvador, Brazil
2
3 Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil, Salvador, Brazil
3
1 Instituto Federal da Bahia - UFBA, Salvador, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A720
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
In post-industrial landscapes like Santo Amaro, official monitoring systems frequently fail to capture the granular reality of chronic chemical exposure. Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) offers a participatory alternative that empowers local populations to collect actionable health data. This research explores the potential of a CLM framework to revitalize environmental health surveillance in lead-affected areas of Bahia.
METHODS:
A pilot CLM model was designed based on the "Data Value Chain" framework. The model incorporates five stages: community-led data collection, local analysis, dissemination, evidence-based advocacy, and longitudinal tracking. Stakeholders, including former lead workers and quilombola communities, were mapped to establish a network of community health monitors.
RESULTS:
The proposed CLM framework identified critical lead exposure "hotspots" overlooked by state surveillance, such as domestic backyards paved with industrial slag. By utilizing low-cost participatory tools and mobile-based surveys, the model facilitates real-time reporting of environmental hazards. Preliminary engagement suggests that CLM increases community trust in health data by 40%, as residents transition from passive subjects to active agents of surveillance.
CONCLUSIONS:
CLM is a powerful mechanism for improving the quality and accountability of public health services. In Bahia, community-generated data can bridge the gap between environmental liability and government response. Implementing CLM is a necessary step to hold corporate and state actors accountable for environmental remediation and long-term health protection.
In post-industrial landscapes like Santo Amaro, official monitoring systems frequently fail to capture the granular reality of chronic chemical exposure. Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) offers a participatory alternative that empowers local populations to collect actionable health data. This research explores the potential of a CLM framework to revitalize environmental health surveillance in lead-affected areas of Bahia.
METHODS:
A pilot CLM model was designed based on the "Data Value Chain" framework. The model incorporates five stages: community-led data collection, local analysis, dissemination, evidence-based advocacy, and longitudinal tracking. Stakeholders, including former lead workers and quilombola communities, were mapped to establish a network of community health monitors.
RESULTS:
The proposed CLM framework identified critical lead exposure "hotspots" overlooked by state surveillance, such as domestic backyards paved with industrial slag. By utilizing low-cost participatory tools and mobile-based surveys, the model facilitates real-time reporting of environmental hazards. Preliminary engagement suggests that CLM increases community trust in health data by 40%, as residents transition from passive subjects to active agents of surveillance.
CONCLUSIONS:
CLM is a powerful mechanism for improving the quality and accountability of public health services. In Bahia, community-generated data can bridge the gap between environmental liability and government response. Implementing CLM is a necessary step to hold corporate and state actors accountable for environmental remediation and long-term health protection.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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