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Development of Policy Instruments: Environmental Health Indicators

Development of Policy Instruments: Environmental Health Indicators. International Symposium December 15th, 2006. Veerle Arren Human Ecology Department Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Contents. What are Environmental Health Indicators ? The DPSEEA-framework

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Development of Policy Instruments: Environmental Health Indicators

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  1. Development of Policy Instruments:Environmental Health Indicators International Symposium December 15th, 2006 Veerle Arren Human Ecology Department Vrije Universiteit Brussel

  2. Contents • What are Environmental Health Indicators ? • The DPSEEA-framework • Inventory of international and national EHI • Filling-in of selected EHI for Flanders: • Outdoor air pollution • Water quality • Food safety • Conclusions

  3. What are Environmental Health Indicators (EHI) ? (1/2) • EHI: “ Measurable units suggesting a relevant and simple relationship between health and environment. Health effects arise from human exposure to environmental pollution.” Cause-consequence relation • Changes environment  changes health & well-being of people • Need to develop EHI to support policy

  4. What are Environmental Health Indicators (EHI) ? (2/2) • Selection criteria for a good EHI: • Policy relevance • Availability and follow-up of data • Simplicity & clarity • Sensitivity • Validity • Reliability & objectivity • Specificity

  5. The DPSEEA-framework • Developed by WHO • Driving forces • Pressure • State • Exposure • Effects • Actions

  6. Inventory of international and national EHI (1/3) • State of the art: worldwide overview based on: • International studies on indicators for SD • WHO • UN • OECD • EU • National studies: • MIRA (‘Environmental report for Flanders’) • VRIND (‘Regional indicators for Flanders’) • Highlighting themes within E & H, relevant for Flanders

  7. Inventory of international and national EHI (2/3) • Testing proposed indicators to criteria for good indicators: • Policy relevance, data availability, simplicity, sensitivity, validity, reliability, specificity • To obtain a set indicators to integrate in Flemish EHIS • Resulted in core set with 42 relevant indicators for Flanders • Classified within the DPSEEA-framework

  8. Inventory of international and national EHI (3/3) • Considered themes: • Outdoor air pollution (17 selected indicators) • Indoor air quality & housing (5) • Noise (4) • Soil pollution (1) • Waste pollution (2) • Water quality (9) • Food safety (1) • Environmental radiation (2) • Smell nuisance (1)

  9. Filling-in of selected EHI for Flanders (1/2) • Filling-in EHI for 3 priority themes with important health impacts: • Outdoor air pollution • Water quality • Food safety

  10. Filling-in of selected EHI for Flanders (2/2)Implementation: Fact-sheets • Results & analysis: • Environment & health context: state of the art • Policy relevance & context • Analysis of the current state • Methodology for implementation • Data • Metadata: • Geographical range, time range, frequency datacollection • Quality, bottlenecks & weaknesses • Alternative indicator(s) • Comparison with indicator in other countries

  11. Filling-in of selected EHI for Flandersa) Outdoor air pollution (1/6)

  12. a) Outdoor air pollution (2/6) Air_D1: Energy use by road traffic

  13. a) Outdoor air pollution (3/6)Air_P1: Yearly emissions of SO2, NOx & NM VOC

  14. a) Outdoor air pollution (4/6)Air_S2: Mean yearly concentrations of PM10

  15. a) Outdoor air pollution (5/6)Air_Exp5: Population-weighed exposure to ozone

  16. a) Outdoor air pollution (6/6)Air_Eff2: Yearly mortality due to respiratory diseases

  17. Filling-in of selected EHI for Flandersb) Water quality (1/5)

  18. b) Water quality (2/5)Water_P1: Waste water treatment coverage

  19. b) Water quality (3/5)Water_S5: Concentration of pesticides in eel

  20. b) Water quality (4/5)Water_S6: Exceedance of WHO guideline values for drinking water for microbiological parameters Tap water (100 – 98 %) Well water (100 – 80 %)

  21. b) Water quality (5/5)Water_Eff1: Outbreaks of water borne diseases

  22. Filling-in of selected EHI for Flandersc) Food safety (1/4) Only one indicator was retained after selection, therefore also the alternative indicators are included in this overview (in italic print)

  23. c) Food safety (2/4)Food_Exp1: Residues of pesticides in food stuffs (fruit & vegetables)

  24. c) Food safety (3/4)Food_S1: Dioxins and PCB’s in cow’s milk

  25. c) Food safety (4/4)Food_Eff1: Food borne infections Distribution potential food borne infections Distribution sources collective food borne infections

  26. Conclusions • Follow-up specific environment & health situations • Identify potential health risks / vulnerable populations • Visualise past & current state • Forecast distance-to-target • Facilitate decision-making • Evaluate policy and measures • International comparison & benchmarking  policy supporting & evaluating instruments

  27. Thank you for your attention! Contact Information: Veerle.Arren@vub.ac.be Human Ecology Department Vrije Universiteit Brussel Laarbeeklaan 103 B – 1090 Brussels Belgium Phone: +32/2/477.42.81 Fax: +32/2/477.49.64 E-mail: human.ecology@vub.ac.be Homepage: http://www.vub.ac.be/MEKO

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