The problem

Several recent health and environment impact assessments have shown that the effects of air pollution in Europe are among the most pressing of environmental health issues. This is especially true for traffic-related problems and air quality within the home and workplace. Policies are being developed to address this problem but there is insufficient exchange of information on exposure reduction measures. Improving the sharing of information available will enable cost-effective, targeted policies to be developed to reduce exposure and improve public health.

Overview:

PRONET will facilitate the exchange of information on measures applied to reduce exposure to traffic-related health hazards (air pollution and noise) and indoor air pollutants across the EU. It will evaluate these exposure reduction measures so as to identify and promote good practice. Policy recommendations will be developed that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the design and implementation of measures aimed at reducing exposure to environmental health hazards.

Contribution to policy development:

• PRONET will provide information and advice on exposure, exposure-effect relations and occurrence of the relevant health effects of indoor air quality and transport-related pollutants.
• The project will strengthen EU capacity for policy-making in the area of environmental health by supporting the Environment and Health Strategy (SCALE), the European Environment and Health Action Plan 2004-2010, the Thematic Strategy on Urban Development, and the World Health Organisation’s Environment and Health process.
• PRONET will promote the co-ordination of environment and health impact reduction policy initiatives and facilitate the transfer of scientific knowledge to policy development.
• The project will develop recommendations for cost-effective reduction of environmental health risks.

Project deliverables

• Workshop report on measures to reduce transport pollution – Nov 2007
• Workshop report on sources of indoor air pollution – Jan 2008
• Report on the setting up of a platform for relevant stakeholders – Apr 2008
• Workshop report on measures taken to improve indoor air quality – Identifying the needs for future research in indoor air quality and transport-related pollution – Aug 2008
• Second workshop report on transport pollution reduction – June 2008
• Combined analysis of results of work packages and draft policy recommendations – Dec 2008
• Comparative analysis of risk reduction options for key drivers of environmental health-effects – Feb 2010

Dissemination

• Project website – from May 2007
• Multi-lingual fact sheets for general distribution – April 2009
• Maintain close working links with complementary groups, projects and institutions, such as the Transport Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP) and Eurocities
• Presentation of results at national, regional and international conferences and the publication of significant results in peer-review journals – as required
• Dissemination of final report and recommendations – February 2010

Technical information

Project acronym: PRONET
Project’s official full title: Pollution Reduction Options NETwork
Research priority: 2.3. The impact of environmental issues on health (including safety at work and methods for risk assessment and the mitigation of risks of natural disasters to people)
Specific webpage: http://www.proneteurope.eu 
Proposal/contract no: 044159
Start date: January 2007
Kick off meeting: March 2007
Completion date: December 2009
European Commission scientific officer: Tomas Turecki, Tomas.TURECKI@ec.europa.eu

Coordinator: 
Peter van den Hazel
Name: Hulpverlening Midden-Gelderland (Public Health Services Gelderland Midden)
Abbreviated name: HGM
Address: postbox 5364, Arnhem, 6802 EJ
Country: The Netherlands
Tel: +31 26 3773915
Fax: +31 26 3773838
Website: www.hvdgm.nl  

Partners

Name: Ministry of the Environment and Conservation, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
Abbreviated name: MUNLV
Country: Germany

Name: Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment
Abbreviated name: VROM
Country: The Netherlands

Name: Stockholm County Council
Abbreviated name: SLL
Country: Sweden

Name:Institute for Public Health and Environment 
Abbreviated name: RIVM
Country: The Netherlands

Name: Danish National Environmental Research Institute
Abbreviated name: DMU
Country: Denmark

Name: Medical University of Vienna
Abbreviated name: MUV, ZPH
Country: Austria

Name: Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (Public Health Agency of Barcelona)
Abbreviated name: ASPB
Country: Spain