BACKROUND
Environmental exposures are associated with a large variety of human diseases ranging from headaches and annoyance to cancer and premature death. Comparison of such risks and prioritization of preventive measures therefore cannot be based merely on incidence or prevalence rates. Quantitative risk characterizations must therefore be further processed.
Environmental burden of disease methodology, developed by World Health Organization, accounts for both years of life lost due to mortality as well as years lived with various disabilities. The latter are quantified using, besides the duration of the condition, a severity weight. Such weights are inherently value-loaded, but in practice the resulting environmental burden of disease estimates have been found useful.
Improved population health registries and harmonization of disease codes together with statistical methods such as population attributable fraction that can be estimated from epidemiological data, allow for rapid and comparable international assessments as demonstrated by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation.
Recent estimates suggest that fine particles (PM2.5) are the leading environmental health risk in European countries by causing up to ten thousand non-discounted lost years of health per million people annually in the EU.
AIMS AND SCOPE
The aim of the workshop is to present a global overview of recent advancements in applying quantitative risk assessment methods such as burden disease on prioritizing indoor air issues, and to discuss gaps and needs for further studies and for a possible harmonization.
PRESENTATIONS
Introduction to the topic
Mandin, Corinne CSTB, France
Concentration response curves for assessment of health impact of ambient particulate matter – what is their relevance for indoor air exposures?
Bølling, Anette FHI, Norway
Burden of diseases of indoor air pollutants in urban China
Zhang Yinping Tsinghua University, China
Application of the BoD estimation approach to develop IAQ metric and health-based ventilation requirements
Wargocki, Pawel DTU, Denmark
Quantitative health impact assessment applied to schools’ indoor pollution
Hulin, Marion Sante Publique France
Considerations for updating European estimates of IABOD
Hänninen, Otto THL, Finland
Discussion on the ways forward
All participants
