24/11/2005
- Better Environment, Healthier People identifies flooding
and climate change, poor air quality, chemicals, inequalities
and outdoor recreation as major environmental priorities
with the potential to impact on the health and well being
of families and communities in the UK. Dr
Helen Phillips, Director Environment Agency Wales, said:
"Recent flooding events demonstrate the importance
of the environment in determining our health and well
being - this report warns that warmer, stormy winters;
hotter, drier summers; more flash floods; and rising sea
levels due to climate change will impact on peoples’ health,
with extreme events even leading to loss of life.
"Air quality in the UK is another
concern - poor air quality could be shortening people's
lives by six months on average and killing 32,000 people
a year," she said.
Acting Chief Medical Officer for Wales,
Dr David Salter, stressed the significance of a healthy
environment for public health improvement
"This report is very timely given
the importance which Welsh Assembly Government attaches
to public health," he said.
Key Findings
Flooding
Flooding can seriously affect people’s
physical and mental health;
In autumn 2000 over 10,000 homes and businesses were flooded
in England and Wales - affecting 1.5million people - by
2080 this figure could rise from 1.5 million to up to
3.6m;
Floods present a much greater health risk and are far
more traumatic if the water contains sewage or other contaminants.
In 2002-03 5,777 properties suffered flooding from sewers.
Air quality
The EC estimates that ozone causes
1,300 premature deaths and 850 hospital admissions annually
in the UK;
Forecasts suggest that by 2030 there could be thousands
more ozone-related deaths and hospital admissions annually
unless there is wider international action to control
emissions;
Although UK and European emissions from transport and
industry are being reduced, average ozone levels are expected
to rise because of global emissions;
37% of toddlers in the UK may exceed the World Health
Organisation recommended daily intake for dioxins and
dioxin-like substance.
Inactivity
Physical inactivity is estimated to
cost around £8.2 billion/year while obesity costs
some £2.5 billion/year; and
If more people do not take part in physical activity there
may be a rise in conditions such as heart disease and
diabetes.
"If the environment is good, people are more likely
to get out and enjoy it – they are more likely to exercise
and stay fit, improving their own health and well-being,"
Dr Helen Phillips said.
"This report will help us to
work effectively with the Welsh Assembly Government, agencies,
industries and individuals to improve the environment
in ways that benefit the nation’s health," Dr Helen
Phillips said.
Importantly the report also identified
major environmental/health improvements.
Most emissions to air by industry
have fallen substantially over the past 10 years, in large
part as a result of tighter regulation;
The quantity of dioxins released from Environment Agency-regulated
industrial sites fell by 95 per cent between 11000 and
2003;
The Environment Agency Pollution Inventory contains details
of over 170 chemical substances released to air, rivers,
estuaries, the sea and sewers from industrial processes
we regulate;
Between 11000 and 2003 the energy sector cut emissions
of sulphur dioxide by 74 per cent sulphur dioxide; and
In 2003, in the UK the public’s exposure to radiation
from nuclear sites averaged less than 0.1 per cent of
the total radiation exposure from all natural and man-made
sources.
"We’ve worked hard to reduce pollution from the industries
we regulate – but there is no room for complacency,"
Dr Helen Phillips said.
"There is more we need to do,
working with others, to improve the environment in ways
that benefit the nation's health."
The Environment Agency is working:
With health professionals to improve
our understanding of the health benefits of using the
environment for exercise and relaxation;
To ensure that the industrial processes we regulate do
not contribute significantly to poor air quality;
To develop a framework for taking health impacts into
account when we assess flood risk management schemes;
With government and local authorities to identify areas
suffering the worst quality environments and channel our
efforts to improve them;
With the industries we regulate to reduce CO2 emissions
in line with government targets;
To find out more about people’s exposure to pollution,
and the effects on health of chemical mixtures. |