Methodology for measuring environmental health within Europe. Health Risk from Environmental Pollution Levels in Urban Systems (HEREPLUS)

Authors

  • Anja Zscheppang Research Association Public Health, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
  • Fausto Manes Department of Plant Biology, University “La Sapienza”, Italy
  • Giuseppe La Torre Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
  • Antonio Boccia Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
  • Stephen Trueman Research Association Public Health, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
  • Dimosthenis Sarigiannis Joint Research Centre, Italy
  • Kalabokas Pavlos The Academy of Athens, Greece
  • Begoña Artíñano Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Atmospheric Pollution Unit, Spain
  • Cinzia Perrino National Research Council Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution, Institute of Agro-Environmental and Forest Biology, Italy
  • Rosalía Fernández Patier Spanish National Institute for Health Carlos III - Air Pollution Division, Spain
  • Michael Rigby Keele University - Centre for Health Planning and Management, United Kingdom
  • Slavenka Jankovic Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, Serbia
  • Wilhelm Kirch Research Association Public Health, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2427/5817

Keywords:

environmental health, HEREPLUS, air pollution

Abstract

Background: The European Commission funds a European research project titled “Health Risk from
Environmental Pollution Levels in Urban Systems” (HEREPLUS) that focuses on environmental health within
Europe. The HEREPLUS project was presented at the 16th EUPHA conference in Lisbon in November 2008
within a workshop named “The assessment of the effect of air pollution on population and environmental
health: the integration of epidemiology and geographical information system (GIS)”.
Methods: The HEREPLUS project aims to measure the correlation between air pollution (especially ozone and
particulate matter), meteorology, vegetation and human health in four European cities (Rome, Madrid, Athens
and Dresden) by using a Geoinformation System to develop risk maps and subsequently guidelines to reduce
air pollution and number of diseases.
Results: The project started in September 2008 and a large, structured, relational database has been
developed and completed. A literature review including national as well as international scientific literature
goes on and will be completed in April 2009. Final results will be presented and published in 2011.
Conclusions: Detailed scientific knowledge is important and needed to implement environmental
programmes with the overall aim to protect human population against environmental related diseases.

Downloads

Published

2008-12-31

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 4 (2008)

Section

Theme Papers