The methods used to produce this article was the knowledge of the two authors and the research that they have done as well as the use of think tanks and other articles on public health.
Emily Goldmann, PhD, MPH is a current assistant research professor at NYU College of Global Public Health. Goldmann researches environmental and social determinants of mental health conditions. and has focused on surveillance of psychological distress, serious mental illness, and psychiatric hospitalization of New Yorkers following Hurricane Sandy.
Sandro Galea, MD, MPH is a canadian/american board-certified emergency physician. Dr. Galea is currently the Dean of BU School of Public Health and former Chair of the Department of Epidemiology of Columbia University's Mailman School of Global Public Health. He specifically researches social production of health within urban populations, and especially notes psychological and mental health disorder prevalence within vulnerable populations, including mood-anxiety disorders and substance abuse.
United States Marine Master Sergeant Jerry Ensminger lived with his family on Marine Base Lejeune in North Carolina after returning from the Vietnam War in the 1970s. His daughter was diagnosed and died from leukemia. The film follows Sergeant Ensminger on his journey to find justice for his daughter and others affected by chemicals in the bases potable water from 1959-1985. The United States Marine Corp hid reports of carcinogens and other toxic chemicals that had polluted the bases water. The film also investigates the pollution of water from other military bases.
Information for this article was gathered from field work, including interviews with workers at the chernobyl site during the inial response efforts and in the recovery efforts undertaken in the aftermath, as well as effected citizens. This tells us that the author did extensive research for this article and looked to others for opinions and information.
This system would have been difficult to use for the immediate affects of 9/11 because for many victims their symptoms didn't develop immediately after the attacks.
The article is supported through the use of interviews with Katrina survivors, statistics and policy moves from FEMA and other response agencies, and data from census reports and other various goverment sources.