Definition and scope

Environmental health includes all aspects of human health and disease that are influenced by factors in the environment, ranging from the direct pathological effects of chemicals, radiation and some biological agents to the effects (often indirect) on health and wellbeing of the broad physical, psychological and social environment.

For most relationships the relationships and underlying mechansims are not straightforward. The vulnerability of individuals and communities to environmental health threats depends on age and health status, genetic factors, diet and well-being.

Children are especially vulnerable to environmental threats in many ways especially in the fields of air pollution, unsafe drinking water, accidents and chemicals.

Burden of disease

The environmental burden of disease represents the amount of disease (morbidity) and mortality that can be attributed to environmental risks. The results of international studies on the environmental contribution to the overall burden of disease vary widely, with estimates ranging from about 2 to 20%. Recent studies for the European situation attribute 2-6% of European mortality and morbidity to environmental factors.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated (2006) the impact of the environment on child health in the European Region as more than 24% of deaths and 22% of disease in children under the age of 14.

Some causes and consequences

Indoor and outdoor air pollution, unsafe water conditions, lead exposure and injuries are the most important environmental risk factors in 0-19 year old children.

Air pollution

Very young children, probably including unborn babies, are particularly sensitive to air pollutants. The evidence is sufficient to infer a causal relationship between particulate air pollution and deaths from respiratory complaints in the post-neonatal period.

Road traffic injuries

Children and young people are particularly vulnerable to road traffic injuries Estimates suggest that each year road traffic incidents cause as many as 6400 deaths in children in the WHO European Region aged 0–14 years and up to 37 000 in young people aged 15–24 years.

Chemicals

Infants and children are especially vulnerable to the acute, sub-acute and chronic effects of ingestion of chemical hazards. Infants consume twice the amount of food per unit of body weight as adults. Moreover, developing organs and tissues are more susceptible to the toxic effects of certain chemicals. Chemical hazards that give most concern are toxic metals (lead, methylmercury, cadmium, arsenic) and some persistent organic pollutants (POPs), notably dioxin-like compounds. The highest risks in food for children are not contaminants or added chemicals, but unhealthy food choices including snack foods with too much fat, sugar and salt.

Opportunities for prevention

Preventive measures include reduction of emissions of air pollutants, reduction of noise exposure, traffic safety measures and healthy behaviour.

Current legislation related to the emission of air pollutants is expected to reduce impacts by around one third. Further reduction, down to around 50% of those estimated for current pollution levels, could be achieved by implementing all currently feasible emission reduction measures (the maximum feasible reduction scenario).

Approaches on reducing road traffic injuries include legislation on, for example, the setting and enforcing of appropriate speed limits, and programmes seeking to raise awareness and influence attitudes and behaviour. Measures include the incorporation of safety features into land use and transport planning; enactment of laws requiring seat belts and child restraints for all motor vehicle occupants; enactment of laws requiring cyclists and drivers of motorized two-wheelers to wear helmets; enactment of legislation setting blood alcohol concentration limits for drivers; and revision of the road infrastructure to improve traffic safety and to provide safer cycling and pedestrian routes and traffic calming.

In the European Region, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is helping countries to develop and strengthen their food safety programmes. This includes harmonizing legislation with Codex Alimentarius guidelines and EU policies, strengthening food control services and promoting quality assurance systems. The WHO food safety programme also supports countries in building and updating skills for the safety analysis, monitoring and management of food.

Link to the European Environment and Health Information System (ENHIS)

The information in this EUphocus comes from the ENHIS project. In this project a comprehensive information and knowledge system is developed that will help to identify and prioritize wide-spread environmental health problems in the Member States, to enable monitoring of the effects of actions taken, and to contribute to building advocacy and communication strategies.