Air Quality and Air Pollution

[Report] The Unpaid Health Bill - how is coal pollution making us sick?

How is coal pollution making us sick? is the latest Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) report launched on 7 March. The paper provides an overview of the scientific evidence of how air pollution impacts on health and how emissions from coal power plants are implicated in this. It presents the first ever economic assessment of the health costs associated with air pollution from coal power plants in Europe as well as testimonies from leading health advocates, medical experts and policy (...)

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Also about: environment , Non-communicable diseases , Chronic Diseases , climate change , equity , health promotion , air pollution , air quality , prevention , Health-promoting environment , social determinants of health

[Save the date] Spotlight on Clean Air & Health

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the Health and Environmental Alliance (HEAL) focus on the connection between clean air and Health in an event hosted by Satu Hassi MEP (FI, the Greens) and co-hosted by Claudiu Ciprian Tănăsescu MEP (RO, S&D) in the European Parliament on 19 March 2013. You all are very welcomed to attend this event! You can register using this registration link The event will run from 18:00 in the Altiero Spinelli (ASP) building in room ASP 5E1 (...)

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Also about: environment , Non-communicable diseases , Chronic Diseases , climate change , equity , health promotion , air pollution , air quality , prevention , Health-promoting environment , social determinants of health

Preventing global non-communicable diseases through low carbon development

Both non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and climate change are enormous threats to global health - synergies attempting to tackle these major health threats have received limited attention to date. The increasing burden of NCDs poses an enormous threat to populations and health systems across the globe. At the same time, the impacts of climate change are predicted to have profound public health effects and there is an urgent need for transition to low-carbon economies. Although important (...)

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Also about: environment , Sustainable Development , children and adolescents , Communicable Diseases , Non-communicable diseases , Chronic Diseases , climate change , WHO , air pollution , air quality , Health-promoting environment , social determinants of health , Noise pollution

EU Commission regulation proposal on sound level of motor vehicles- the relevance of EP Plenary vote

In December 2011, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new regulation aimed at tightening noise emissions standards for cars, vans, lorries and buses. Although the Environmental Committee of the European Parliament has voted for tighter future noise limits for vehicles, the rapporteur disappointingly announced he would repeat the vote in a full Parliament Plenary. The Plenary vote took place on 6th February 2013. What’s the problem? More than 200 million European (...)

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Also about: environment , equity , health promotion , unhealthy products , air pollution , air quality , social determinants of health , Fundamental Rights , Noise pollution

[Joint Press Release] Beyond disappointment – European lawmakers on the side of automobile industry on traffic noise vote

Brussels, February 6 - The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) (1) and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) (2) regret the outcome of today’s plenary vote at the European Parliament (EP) on the regulation on the sound level of motor vehicles. The majority of European Parliamentarians – the elected representatives of the citizens - have turned a blind eye to people’s concerns, and prioritised the automobile industry over everyone’s health and well-being. (...)

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Also about: Sustainable Development , children and adolescents , Transport , Non-communicable diseases , Development and Health , WHO , cardiovascular

Attitudes of Europeans Towards Air Quality

Air quality is a major concern for European citizens and is an area in which the EU has been particularly active over the last 30 years. As part of continuing efforts to improve air quality and air pollution, the European Commission is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of EU air policy, with a view to revising the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution and associated legislation in 2013. The EU’s key objective in relation to air quality is "to achieve levels of air quality (...)

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Also about: environment , Non-communicable diseases , Chronic Diseases , climate change , equity , air pollution , air quality , prevention , Health-promoting environment , social determinants of health

Plain cigarette packaging introduced today in Australia

Today, December 1st, Australia is making public health history by being the first country in the world to implement plain packaging for cigarettes. After long debates, strong pressure from the tobacco industry that went as far as to the country’s High Court, Australia becomes today the first country in the world to sell its cigarettes in plain packaging. Consisting of a standard shape without branding, design, logo or any promotional text, and the brand name appearing in a standard (...)

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Also about: environment , tobacco and smoking , Chronic Diseases , air quality , second-hand smoke , prevention , Addictive and harmful substances and behaviours

EPHA service

7th EAP- General Action Programme - THE 7TH ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME (EAP) (updated on 18 March 2013) Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) – EP report - EU-wide plan to tackle the proliferation of AMR (updated on 22 March 2013) CAP reform – new regulations - Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) revision for 2014-2020 (updated on 5 April 2013) Car noise pollution - new EU regulation - sound level of motor vehicles (updated on 7 February 2013) Child poverty and well being - Council (...)

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Also about: environment , EU Institutions , tobacco and smoking , Civil Society , Sustainable Development , Social Issues , Transport , Pharmaceuticals and Medicines , Non-communicable diseases , Chronic Diseases , Vaccines and Immunization , CAP reform , poverty and health , climate change , food safety , WHO , impact assessment , professional mobility , antibiotic , second-hand smoke , Health-promoting environment , council , European Parliament , European Commission , cardiovascular , social inclusion , council of the european union , EU funds , Europe 2020 , social policy , agriculture , food security , social determinants of health , EPHA consultancy services , data protection , Noise pollution

The neglected health dimension of climate change in the UK

According to a recent report published by the British Health Protection Agency (HPA), the health risks from climate change in the UK may have serious public health impacts in the country. "Every century has its own public health challenges - climate change is our century’s challenge," said Dr Margaret Chan, Director General WHO “There is no doubt that climate change poses a wide range of challenges to public health in the UK ... from increased risks of heatwaves through to (...)

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Also about: environment , Sustainable Development , Development and Health , climate change , public health , air quality

What can be done to reduce health impacts from air pollution?

Last September 13, and on the margins of the Health & Environment Alliance’s (HEAL) Annual General Assembly (AGA), a workshop was dedicated to the air quality situation in Europe. Indoor and outdoor air quality, air pollution, and children’s health and air quality measured on the spot were on the agenda. Workshop’s agenda Why did the Health & Environment Alliance’s (HEAL) decide to put Air quality at the top of its priorities? While there have been some (...)

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Also about: environment , Civil Society , Non-communicable diseases , Chronic Diseases , air pollution , air quality , prevention , events