Environmental Health

Certain environmental factors, such as exposure to pollutants through water, food or air, are important determinants of health. For example, it has been estimated that up to one sixth of all child fatalities and disease can be attributed to environmental factors. Individuals can make certain choices that affect their lifestyle and health on their own, but they also rely on public authorities for protection from health threats.

The European Union is currently implementing the EU Environment & Health Action Plan 2004-2010 to respond to this challenge. It aims to provide national governments with the scientifically sound information needed to reduce the adverse health impacts of certain environmental factors.
The EU’s ultimate goal is to fill the knowledge gap by strengthening research and addressing the emerging issues on environment and health, and to make available relevant information to the public.

Links to the EU activities

Public Health
- Health and environment
  EU approach to tackling health risks related to environmental factors
- Electromagnetic fields
  EU approach to preventing the health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields
- Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks
  Committee's work examining the toxicity of biological and chemical compounds

Environment
- Environment and health
  The work of the European Environment Agency on human health issues and environmental factors
- Endocrine disrupter
  EU approach to addressing the adverse effects caused by substances altering the functions of the endocrine system
- Children's Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe
  EU cooperation with the WHO addressing environmental risk factors most affecting children's health in Europe
- Climate Change
  EU efforts to address global warming

Unexpected events
- Extreme weather conditions
  Information page on the risks for health due to extreme weather, such as cold and heat waves. This section proposes also a panorama of studies on this topic
- EuroHeat
  This web site has been created by the EC-Public health "EuroHeat" Project. It provides European citizens with national forecasts of heat waves

Research
- Research for environment and health
  EU research into tackling environmental hazards (air pollution, allergies, noise, chemicals, UV, endocrine disrupters, electromagnetic fields, etc.)
- JRC - protecting from environmental risks
  EU research into potential health risks posed by factors such as chemicals, biocides etc.
- Support for the EU Environment and Health Strategy
  Information on an integrated environment and health response system designed to support the EU Environment and Health Strategy
- SSP - Scientific Support to Policies
  Initiative helping policy-making on issues such as health, security and management of natural resources
- Endocrine disrupter
  EU research initiatives to tackle the adverse effects of substances that alter the functions of the endocrine system

EC Health Indicators
- PM10 exposure
  Data on the percentage of urban population exposed to air pollution concentration levels exceeding limit values

European Health Information
- Airborne particulate matter
  Data on airborne particulate matter
- Children's Health and the Environment
  Overview of public health issues related to the environment and children's health

European Environment and Health Information System
- The ENHIS Project
  Environmental and health indicators developed by the Commission and WHO

European Commission
Health-EU. The Public Health Portal of the European Union

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