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Health and Environment
Human beings are part of the environment and thus exposed permanently to various environmental influences which may pose direct health risks. The evaluation of these possible risks is the main task of the heath-related environmental protection.
In order to validate possible environmental effects on human health, the North Rhine-Westphalia State Environment Agency makes use of various scientific disciplines. The evaluation of pollutants includes latest toxicological and epidemiological knowledge. Reference is given also to aspects of the clinical medicine, pathology and environmental hygiene as well as clinical chemistry, social medicine and various other domains of science, psychology and social sciences.
Social and cultural influences are important factors to be considered in a holistic approach, but are not the central focus of a health related environmental protection. These influences are considered a. o. in the field of occupational health and safety as well as social medicine. Within the scope of health related environmental protection they are incorporated as additional factors which may modify the environmental risk factors.
The duties and responsibilities of a health related environmental protection within the North Rhine-Westphalia State Environment Agency include:
- Consultation and evaluation of health effects caused by environmental pollutants within licensing procedures as well as environmental impact assessments
- Evaluation of environmental pollutants with respect to soil, water, and ambient air
- Development of exposure estimation models
- Planning, realisation and evaluation of epidemiologic studies
- Cooperation with in the Action Program Environment and Health North Rhine Westphalia (APUG NRW)
North Rhine-Westphalia State Environment Agency 2006
