Current environmental health policy situation

The implementation of effective environmental health policy can lead to significant improvements in health and environmental conditions. National policies may both benefit a country and contribute more widely to the global situation. The key players at European level are the European Commission and WHO/Europe. At the national level, the approach to environmental health issues varies by country. Environmental health cuts across different sectors and ministries, and policy making involves many stakeholders in planning and consultation.

The degree of policy harmonization among 17 countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovak Republic) varies by theme. In cases where coherent EU legislative policy frameworks exist, such as for water and outdoor air, national environmental health policies are well harmonized. However, when coherent frameworks are lacking, as for traffic and indoor air, there is less inter-country harmonization. International efforts which seek to strengthen international policy frameworks may provide impetus towards greater harmonization. Policy is poorly harmonized for nationally regulated themes such as housing issues or UV radiation. These themes are currently dealt with in national strategies and action plans, which nevertheless encompass a more or less similar focus or strategy in different countries.

Most countries in the European Region are committed to develop children’s environment and health action plans (CEHAPs). See ENHIS for more information.

European Commission SCALE and Environment and Health Action Plan

The European Commission (EC) introduced the European Environment and Health Strategy in 2003, identifying the need to scale up efforts to protect human health, particularly for the most vulnerable groups in society. This approach, known as ‘SCALE’ (Science, Children, Awareness, Legislation and Evaluation) focuses on child diseases that are linked to environmental factors. In relation to the Strategy, the EC DG Sanco Programme of Community Action in the field of Public Health (2003 – 2008) supports research activities in the field of environmental health. The EU Health Portal includes environmental health data and information about related activities at European and international scale.

In 2004, the European Environment and Health Action Plan 2004-2010 was presented. It was designed to provide the EU with the scientific information needed to reduce the adverse health impacts of specific environmental factors and to enhance cooperation between actors in the environment, health and research fields. The three main themes of the Action Plan are: improving the information chain; filling the knowledge gap; and, reviewing policies and improving communication.

Air quality

At international level, outdoor air and its main pollutants are subject to diverse policy initiatives. In the EU, outdoor air quality is regulated by overarching EC environmentally-oriented Directives, which define air quality standards as well as common methods and criteria for assessment and management of the pollutant levels.

The Air Quality Framework Directive 96/62/EC covers existing and new air quality legislation. The Directive covers the revision of previously existing legislation and the introduction of new air quality standards for previously unregulated air pollutants, setting the timetable for the development of daughter directives on a range of pollutants. The atmospheric pollutants considered include pollutants governed by exisiting ambient air quality objectives (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, lead and ozone), along with benzene, carbon monoxide, poly-aromatic hydrocarbons, and cadmium.

Chemical and food safety

Food is potentially an important source of human exposure to chemicals. In order to ensure adequate standards of food safety and quality, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and WHO have developed the Codex Alimentarius, which has been an international reference for health authorities and food control officials since 1963. Within the WHO European Region, the WHO food safety programme helps countries develop and strengthen their own programmes, including the harmonization of legislation with Codex Alimentarius guidelines and European Union policies.

Water and sanitation

For water and sanitation, overarching EC environmentally-oriented Directives define microbial standards. In addition, international frameworks focus on ensuring drinking water quality from a health perspective.

Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of drinking water is set to protect the health of consumers in the European Union and to ensure drinking water is clean and has an acceptable appearance (in terms of taste, odour and colour)

Council Directive 2006/7/CE and 76/160/EEC concerning the quality of bathing water sets binding microbiological standards in the receiving waters where bathing is practiced by large numbers.

UNECE Protocol on Water and Health (1999) aims to ensure there is adequate safe drinking water and sanitation for everyone, and to protect waters used for drinking effectively..

The WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality introduced the concept of Water Safety Plans (WSP). At present, no European country has legal instruments which require the implementation of WSP. Most countries will wait for revision of the Drinking Water Directive to introduce the WSP concept.

Mobility and transport

The European Road Safety Action Programme was developed with the aim of significantly improving road safety by 2010. Traffic policies focus on vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, and also pedestrians, young cyclists and young drivers. In order to move towards sustainable and ‘healthy’ transport, integrated action by various stakeholders and sectors is needed – these reach across traffic, environment, health, and economics. The European Road Safety Charter comprises a formal undertaking towards collective co-operation.

The programme sets out specific measures and reaffirms the overall goal of halving the number of road accident victims by 2010. It aims to encourage road users to improve their behaviour, to make vehicles safer, and to improve road infrastructure.

Housing

The EU’s Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe established co-operation with UN Habitat to improve social housing and urban development across the region. Initiatives, action programmes and declarations within the United Nations Human Settlements Programme are aimed at reaching the UN Millennium Goals.

On the European scale, housing safety and accidents are addressed by the Communication on Actions for a Safer Europe and the proposed Council Recommendation on the Prevention of Injury and the Promotion of Safety. The Council Recommendation describes the burden of injuries in the EU and recommends that member states develop national injury surveillance and reporting systems and national action plans for preventing accidents and injuries, initiating interdepartmental co-operation.

Residential indoor air quality is not covered by European policies. A declaration recognizing the indoor environmental risk factors of private dwellings, schools and other public buildings may provide impetus.

Ultraviolet radiation

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Adopted on 16 September 1987, provides the framework for legislation on UV exposure prevention.

The WHO INTERSUN programme recommendations, such as sun bed protection programmes in schools and the existence of a national specific website dedicated to UV exposure and skin cancer prevention, can serve as a framework for a European action plan to reduce excessive UV exposure.

Indoor radon

The EC recommendation on the protection of the public against indoor radon exposure (90/143/Euratom) defines a reference level of 400 Bq.m-3 for existing buildings and 200 Bq.m-3 for new buildings. Above this level, remedial action should be taken.

The WHO International Radon Project (IRP) focuses on the development of evidence-based public health guidance for Member States to formulate policy and advocacy strategies, including the establishment of radon action levels.