EPA Perspective Shane Colgan, 25 th September 2013 Environment & - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Environment & Health EPA Perspective Shane Colgan, 25 th September 2013

Environment & Health

Or… Environment & Health

Environment for Health 2,000 people die prematurely in Ireland from obesity each year – exercise (environment) has an important role in addressing this. Engaging with the natural environment has real benefits for mental health.

Further Benefits • [US] Environmental Protection Agency Ranked Most Effective of All Federal Agencies - Office of Management and Budget annual report to Congress (May 2013) • For every dollar invested, Americans get $10 worth of benefits. • “ One of the driving forces behind this conclusion is the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, an extraordinary achievement for clean air and public health. ” • Mercury pollution: benefits are based on EPA's estimates of increased wages of (higher IQ) children (Mercury is a potent neurotoxin.)

Environment, Health & Europe • Parma Declaration (WHO-Europe, 2010) • Key environment and health challenges of our time include: • health risks from poor environmental, working and living conditions (lack of water and sanitation ); • concerns raised by persistent, endocrine-disrupting and bioaccumulating harmful chemicals and (nano)particles ; and by novel and emerging issues; • health and environmental impacts of climate change

Environment, Health & Europe • European Environment Agency & JRC Report (May 2013) “Environmental issues with a direct influence on people's health and well- being…” • Chemicals • Outdoor Air • Indoor Air • Radon • Water • Noise • Electromagnetic Fields • Ultraviolet Radiation • Nanotechnology • Green Spaces & the Natural Environment • Climate Change

Environment, Health & Ireland • Protecting the Irish environment plays an essential role in protecting the health of the population. Determinants of Health >>>>>

Environment, Health & Ireland • Protecting the Irish environment plays an essential role in protecting the health of the population. Determinants of Health >>>>>

Environment, Health & the EPA • ‘environmental protection’ includes (a) the prevention, limitation, elimination, and abatement or reduction of environmental pollution, and (b) the preservation of the quality of the environment as a whole. • ‘environmental pollution’ means the direct or indirect introduction to an environmental medium, as a result of human activity, of substances, heat or noise which may be harmful to human health or the quality of the environment… • Protection of the Environment Act (2003)

Environment, Health & the EPA • Ecosystem Services and Health • Green Spaces and Health • Clean Water and Health • Drinking Water • Waste Water • Bathing Water • Shellfish • Sea Lettuce

Environment, Health & the EPA • Clean Air and Health • Outdoor Air Quality • Indoor Air Quality • Radon • Ozone and Health • Odour • Bioaerosols • Noise

Environment, Health & the EPA • Chemicals and Other Threats to Health in the Environment • Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) • Heavy Metals • Endocrine Disruptors & Pharmaceuticals • Pharmaceutical & Personal Care Products • Nanomaterials • Electromagnetic Radiation • Waste • Environmental Regulation and Public Health

Monitoring for Environ- Health… • National Ambient Air Quality • Water Quality • Emissions from IPPC facilities (Air, Noise, Water) • Bathing Water • Dioxins Also, Water Quality, Air Quality, REACH etc.. reports

Regulating for Environ- Health… • International Standards • EU Directives & Regulations • WHO • Best Available Techniques Reference Documents • Ambient monitoring • Modelling • Advice / input from Statutory Consultees (Health Authorities, etc)

Networking for Environ- Health… • EPA Health Advisory Committee (Est 2012) • Health Service Executive • VTEC, Crypto, Human Biomonitoring • Health & Safety Authority • Chemicals • RPII • Monitoring, Waste Mgmt, Enforcement, Research… • Local Authorities • Air, Drinking Water, Bathing Water, Noise • Health Research Board, ERA-ENVHEALTH • Research Planning • Dept Agriculture • Pesticides, Land-spreading also DECLG, FSAI, Enterprise Ireland, UK Drinking Water Regulators…

STRIVE: Environment & Health • Water: • Impacts on Ecosystem & Human Health • Sustainable Environment: • Environment and Human Health • Recent / Ongoing projects • Cryptosporidium Reference Facility • Heat Waves & Increased Mortality • Health Impact Assessment • Indoor Air Quality >>>>

STRIVE: Environment & Health STRIVE 2013 Call … • National Pollution Mass-balance Model • Effect of lead Pipe Removal on Lead Concentrations in Drinking water • Natural Organic Matter in Waters • Impact on health of air quality in Ireland • Composition of Particulate Matter in Rural and Urban Sites with a focus on residential emissions. • Building a bottom-up air emission inventory • Impact of air emissions (ammonia) from intensive agriculture installations (pig and poultry) on Natura 2000 sites

STRIVE: Environment & Health Ecosystem Benefits for Health Safe Water for Drinking & Recreation Assessing the health benefits of a high Assessment of environmental exposure quality environment and human health risk from endocrine disruptors Creating health-promoting environments and using green prescriptions Disinfection by-products in drinking waters Benefit to health of environmental improvements (eg creation and Methods & tools for the protection of management of green space) recreational waters Clean Air & Noise Chemicals and Other Threats Effects of airborne pollutants on human Assessment of human health effects of health - in particular ambient air immunotoxic agents particulates Chemical risk assessment and related Indoor air quality and health toxicological issues Climate change, stratospheric ozone Health effects of nanoparticles & other depletion, and human health novel substances in the environment Health impacts from Radon exposure Interdisciplinary research addressing relationships between environmental pollutants & human health