EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Chapter 14: Environment, Health and Wellbeing Environment Health in All Policies Approach Developments in government policies have, in the past, led to tension and unintended consequences that have reduced the quality of our environment. Going forward, it is crucial that policies and measures are carefully formulated to maximise synergies, minimise unintended negative consequences and ultimately yield improvements and co-benefits for the environment and the health and wellbeing of our society. Importantly, an ‘Environment Health in All Policies’ approach should be adopted across government, whereby policies across all sectors must systematically consider the implications of decisions on the environment and human health, capture synergies and prevent negative impacts and inequity in exposures and outcomes. Including public health considerations and co-benefits in environmental policy development is a clear opportunity. Individual Actions From an individual perspective, greater action is needed at a household level to proactively tackle the various avoidable health consequences that we and our families face every day. Equally, as individuals, we need to engage more with our green and blue spaces as they offer a multitude of health and wellbeing benefits. While it is clear that the changes and action required to avert major challenges such as climate change, air pollution and plastic pollution use are no doubt beyond the immediate reach of the individual, the influence that individual action or choice can have on others may indeed help lay important foundations for further action and shift society’s view of what is considered ‘normal’. The importance of small individual actions must therefore not be underestimated. Specific Environment and Health Challenges The following are specific environment and health challenges. n A switch away from solid fuel burning by all householders would ensure a better environment for those vulnerable populations in society, such as people, and particularly children, with asthma. It would also help to limit our carbon dioxide emissions, which are contributing to climate change. n The incidence of STEC/VTEC in Ireland is the highest in Europe and the number of cases is growing year on year. A coordinated ‘One Health’ approach (i.e. recognising the interconnection between people, animals, plants and their shared environment) is urgently needed to tackle this issue, particularly in the light of climate change and increasing extreme weather events. n Improvements are needed at public drinking water supplies identified by the EPA as in need of upgrading, replacement or improved operational control. There is also a need to improve resilience against weather events and climate extremes. n Irish Water must urgently address the issue of untreated sewage from the equivalent of 78,000 people being released into the Irish environment every day. Wastewater facilities must be established, and infrastructurally and operationally improved, at a much faster pace. n A formalised national take-back scheme for unused or expired human medicines and legacy contaminants is needed to offer a safe disposal mechanism to the public and prevent unnecessary environmental contamination. n Consideration should be given to applying stricter limits and standards for a broader range of metals, chemicals and contaminants in sewage sludge, which are subsequently recycled to land, as a proactive step to protect our environment and human health from contaminants of existing and emerging concern. n Systematic environmental surveillance of antimicrobial use and AMR and of emerging pollutants of concern is required to contribute to protecting human, animal and ecosystem health. n Exposure to radon results in an estimated 300 cases of lung cancer each year. Research has shown that better building practices have resulted in a 13 per cent reduction in the average radon concentration in Irish homes and that stronger regulation is the most effective way of protecting the population from radon. 379