WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1194/96 by Richard HOWITT to the Commission. Link between industrial emissions and incidence of poor health at Canvey Island
Date: 1996-05-15
Institutions: European Parliament, HOWITT
Subjects: South East (England), action programme, air quality, industrial pollution, public health, research programme, respiratory disease













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91996E1194

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1194/96 by Richard HOWITT to the Commission. Link between industrial emissions and incidence of poor health at Canvey Island  


Official Journal C 322 , 28/10/1996 P. 0040 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1194/96 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (15 May 1996)Subject: Link between industrial emissions and incidence of poor health at Canvey IslandIs the Commission aware of studies which show the link between industrial emissions and poor health, in particular asthma, such as that which afflicts my constituents at Canvey Island, Essex? Could the Commission state precisely what research has been undertaken on this subject at European level and which European funding programmes are available to fund further research in this respect?Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (14 June 1996)The Commission is aware of the many studies which show correlations between poor air quality and morbidity (including asthma prevalence) in various populations around Europe. Many such studies have been and are being supported by the Commission through both the environment and climate and the biomedicine and health (Biomed) research programmes.In the environment and climate research programme, relevant research is supported under the topic 'Risks to human health'. Two recently terminated projects are particularly relevant. The results on the first project 'Aphea' (Short-term effects of air pollution on mortality and morbidity: a European approach using epidemiological time-series data) have recently been published as a supplement to the Journal of epidemiology & community health ((April 1996, Volume 50, Supplement 1, pages S1-S80. )). The results of the second project 'Peace' (Effects of short-term changes in urban air pollution on the respiratory health of children with chronic respiratory symptoms) will be published shortly as a supplement to the European respiratory review.In the current Biomed 2 research programme, relevant research is supported under the areas 'Occupational and environmental health' and 'Chronic diseases, ageing and age-related diseases' where the objective is to elucidate the role of environmental factors in the development of asthma.Titles of recent and current projects on the subject in both programmes are sent direct to the Honourable Member and the Parliament's Secretariat and specific details of them are available from the Commission.Relevant research proposals will be welcomed in both programmes, following calls for proposals scheduled for 15 September 1996.A Commission proposal for an action programme on pollution-related diseases is under preparation in the context of the framework for action in the field of public health ((COM(93) 559 final. )) focusing on respiratory diseases such as asthma and allergies, and aiming at exchanging information and increasing understanding about pollution-related health risks and how to address them. It is not envisaged that there will be a possibility to fund projects concerning surveys and reviews of data for preventive action until such time as the programme is adopted by the Parliament and the Council.