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Chapter 9
Environment and Health
Environmental protection and health protection are inextricably
linked. At a time of major concern about employment and economic
issues, it is easy to overlook the truth in the maxim that health is
wealth. Protecting the Irish environment plays an essential role in
protecting the health of the population.
In Ireland the quality of drinking water from large public supplies is
comparable to that in other EU countries, and the risks to health from
all public supplies continue to reduce. Implementation of legislation
on waste water treatment plants, industrial activities and septic tanks
as well as good agricultural practice will further reduce the risks to
drinking water quality and reduce water pollution generally.
Air quality, noise and odour pose little overall risk to public health in
Ireland, although these issues can give rise to localised concerns and
impacts. The continued implementation of relevant European and
Irish legislation will maintain a healthy environment. Actions are
required, however, to reduce the risk to health from high radon
levels in some areas.
Maintaining and benefiting from a healthy environment requires
coordinated efforts from many government and public bodies to
ensure that existing and future activities maintain or improve the
quality of the environment. Small, medium and large-scale businesses
and industry also play an important role in this area by ensuring
their activities do not cause pollution or create environmental
liabilities for future generations, with a particular responsibility falling
to farmers as guardians of the rural environment. Finally, the public
play an important part by not polluting their local environment and
by taking advantage of the tangible benefits to health that come
from contact with a good-quality environment.