EditEnvironment and human health
Overview of key drivers and pressuresThe environment affects the health and quality of life of individuals and communities throughout Scotland. The relationships between the environment and health are complex. For example, exposure to environmental pollutants (e.g. hazardous substances) can come from many different sources and be expressed through many different routes: the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink and through our work and homes. Conversely, the creation of good quality green space can be particularly beneficial to the health of people and wildlife living in our urban environments.
SEPA will work, in conjunction with others, to improve its understanding of the relationships between human health and the environment and will take account of this in future environmental monitoring, assessment and regulation. SEPA welcomes the Scottish Government initiative to develop a Strategic Framework for Environment and Health and will continue to work with them in promoting a common understanding of the factors affecting health and the actions to be taken to address these.
SEPA recognises the need for improved signals and indicators for environmental reporting and will critically review its monitoring and that done by others with respect to health. Building on this, it will promote the development and delivery of a national monitoring programme which better addresses health and which provides the evidence required to influence future policy and practice on planning, redevelopment and regulation.
Issues that require a better understanding include:
•The impacts (positive and negative) of the environment on human health.
•“Environment and Human Health” signals and indicators to inform future monitoring, assessment and regulation.
•The effects of airborne pollutants on human health, particularly with respect to substances arising from transport. SEPA needs to build on a good knowledge base and better target action, particularly in relation to particulate matter.
•The identification and prioritisation of emerging pollutants where background concentrations are increasing and considered to be potentially detrimental to human health. Research should strengthen the evidence base of health effects to support the inclusion of these substances in future monitoring programmes where appropriate.
•The influence of climate change on the environment with respect to health, particularly in relation to the psychological effects of flooding.
Human health research prioritiesCategory Priorities Improving understanding and scientific assessment, monitoring, analyses and interpretation
Develop a better understanding of the fate, behaviour and potential health effects of ‘novel’ substances in the environment (e.g. nano-materials and endocrine modulating substances).
Identify and prioritise pressures (e.g. emissions, activities and substances) of concern to human health in Scotland.
Develop methodology to create environmental quality standards and appropriate monitoring and assessment techniques (signals, indicators and analytical methods) to describe the state of the environment with respect to human health
Developing innovative and sustainable options for environmental protection including development of methods, tools and techniques that will lead to better regulation
Develop models for the assessment of environmental exposure and human health risk (particularly for airborne pollutants) to identify potential problems and focus regulatory action.
Improve methods and tools for the protection of bathing waters and recreational waters, and for assessing the potential health impact of abstraction from drinking water sources.
Explore the benefit to health of environmental improvement ‘activities’ (e.g. creation and management of green space)
Enhancing understanding and influencing values, attitudes, behaviours and decision-making processes that affect the environment and human health
Develop our advisory and influencing roles, particularly with regard to sustainable development, alternative technologies, and the potential benefit to health.
Undertake socio-economic evaluation of improvements to quality of life as part of our approach to human health impact assessment
Potential partners for this research topic on Environment and Human Health include:
- Health Protection Scotland (HPS), Scottish Government (SG), academic institutions, NHS Health Boards, Environment Agency for England and Wales, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Defra, Dept of Health, Health Protection Agency, UK Interdepartmental Steering Group, Greenspace Scotland, Sustainable Development Research Network, Sustainability through Environment, Nature, Communities and Enterprise (SENCE) partners.