Children's health and the environment in Europe. A baseline assessment report

Abstract

This report summarizes the information gathered by the European environment and health information system (EHIS). EHIS was developed by the WHO Regional Office for Europe in collaboration with a wide group of Member States, following the recommendations of the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health held in Budapest in 2004. The work is conducted in a series of projects supported by grants from the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission, and contributes to the implementation of the public health action programme of the European Community. The report gives an overview of the establishment of the system and the outcomes of the methodological work. It provides information on the scientific basis, framework and scope of the system, and presents plans for future action. The use of the system is highlighted by presenting its main product: an indicator-based assessment of children’s health and the environment in the WHO European Region in the context of the Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe. The assessment provides a baseline against which the progress and effects of action taken can be evaluated at the Fifth Ministerial Conference in 2009.