Population health and waste management: scientific data and available options
Report of a WHO workshop -
World Health Organization - Regional Office for
Available online as PDF file [90p.] at:
http://www.euro.who.int/document/E91021.pdf
“…….Waste management is becoming an increasingly complex matter in many European countries. Improvements in technology and recycling schemes are often not sufficient to counter growing waste production, obsolescence of existing waste management facilities and shortage of space for the construction of new facilities. Further difficulties are posed, in many instances, by mounting public concerns on effects on health and well being.
Controversy and consequent difficulties in developing and adopting health-friendly, cost-effective and equitable policies in waste management are due to several reasons, including: abundance of suggestive, but not conclusive, evidence on possible adverse health effects of living near waste treatment plants, landfills, incinerators etc; confusion between different issues such as the disposal of solid urban waste as opposed to other types of waste (e.g., toxic industrial waste, hospital waste); mistrust in authorities and scientific community; occurrence of "NIMBY" (Not In My Back Yard) syndrome type of reaction, possibly as a result of overlooking aspects of risk perception and communication.
Objectives:
· review the current scientific evidence on health effects of environmental and occupational exposure to waste and waste treatment emissions, with special reference to landfilling and incineration;
· review the contribution of state-of-the-art technology in reducing emissions and population exposures;
· clarify what exposures are likely to be most relevant in terms of health and the degree of population exposures in European countries;
· analyse case studies from European countries where waste management and health is a matter of concern or where successful policies are adopted (comparing and contrasting success stories and unsolved problems);
· review and evaluate health-based approaches to support decision making in waste management, e.g., burden of disease estimation, health impact assessment, treatment of uncertainty;
· provide guidance and support to policy makers engaged in waste management.
Content:
1. Introduction
2. Landfills
2.1 Emissions and exposure
2.2 Scientific evidence
2.3 Critical case studies
3. Incinerators
3.1 Emissions and exposure
3.2 Scientific evidence
3.3 Critical case studies
4. Overall assessment of health impact of waste
4.1 Landfills
4.2 Incinerators
5. Discussion points: knowledge gaps, uncertainty, research priorities, action and policy options
Annex A. Extended abstracts
A1. An overview of health effects of landfill sites
A2. A systematic review of the evidence of an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes in populations living in the vicinity of landfill waste disposal sites
A3. Overview of health effects – incinerators
A4. Technology of waste management and exposure assessment: landfills in
A5. Technology of waste management and exposure assessment: incinerators
A6. Sustainable waste management in the
A7. Public views on sources of knowledge for decisions about waste management
A8. The INTARESE Project: health impact assessment of waste management
A9. Health impact assessment of waste management facilities
A10. Priority needs in research
A11. Monetary valuation of impacts and cost–benefit analysis
A12. Case studies: an introduction
A13. Landfills, case study (
A14. Landfills, case study (
A15. Incinerators, case study (
A16. Incinerators, case study (
A17. Incinerators, case study (
A18. Waste treatment and health in
Annex B. Programme
Annex C. List of participants
References
Marco Martuzzi PhD - World Health Organization
European Centre for Environment and Health
Via F. Crispi 10
00187 Rome - Italy
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