WRITTEN QUESTION E-1776/03 by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission. Child asthma and allergic diseases.
Date: 2003-05-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, air quality, allergy, child, health policy, public health, respiratory disease

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/373

(2004/C 88 E/0378)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1776/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(28 May 2003)

Subject: Child asthma and allergic diseases

A recent World Health Organisation Report has indicated that the number of European cases of child
asthma and allergic diseases doubled between the 1970s and 1990s.

Does the Commission have its own analysis of the causes and does it include bad air quality and the
impact of synthetic chemicals in water and food?

What is the Commission’s view on why in at least two EU countries (cid:1) the UK and Italy (cid:1) child asthma
and allergic diseases are now ‘easing’, according to the WHO?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2003)

Under the Action Programme on pollution-related diseases (1) in the context of the framework for action in
the field of Public Health (1999/2001), the Commission funded several projects on asthma and respiratory
allergies prevention. The list and the summary of these projects can be found on our web site at the
following address: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/health).

According to numerous scientific studies, the origin of asthma and allergic diseases is multi-factorial and
therefore highly difficult to tackle.

The Commission does not have any particular information on a decrease of the incidence of asthma and
allergies in Italy and United Kingdom.

The reduction of the number of people affected by such diseases is one of the priorities of the new Public
Health Programme adopted in 23 September 2002 (2).
In addition, asthma and respiratory allergies
prevention is also considered as a priority in the Commission Communication ‘A European Environment
and Health Strategy’ adopted on 11 June 2003, which can be found on our web site at the following
address: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/press room/presspacks/health/pp health en.htm).

(1) Decision No 1296/1999/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 1999 adopting a programme of
Community action on pollution-related diseases in the context of the framework for action in the field of public
health (1999 to 2001), OJ L 155, 22.6.1999.

(2) Decision No 1786/2002/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2002 adopting a programme of
Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008) (cid:1) Commission Statements, OJ L 271, 9.10.2002.

(2004/C 88 E/0379)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1800/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(28 May 2003)

Subject: SARS and airline air recycling

What regulations apply to airlines operating in the EU concerning high efficiency particulate air (HEPA)
filters? How often are such filters changed? How quickly does their efficiency deteriorate with use? Why do
passengers have to breathe recycled air at all? What is the range of ventilation allowed (i.e. the number of
minutes before air is fully changed in the cabin)? Once suspect cases of passengers are found, what
procedure is in place to prevent other passengers from being infected by the same aircraft? Is the
Commission satisfied that these procedures are now adequate to the risks involved?