Title
In search of a common European approach to a healthy indoor environment
Author
Adan, O.C.G.
Ng-A-Tham, J.
Hanke, W.
Sigsgaard, T.
van den Hazel, P.
Wu, F.
TNO Bouw en Ondergrond TNO Defensie en Veiligheid
Publication year
2007
Abstract
Increasingly, policymakers in Europe and around the world are realizing the importance of healthy indoor environments for public health. Certain member states of the European Union (EU) have already achieved successes in improving indoor environmental quality, such as controlling certain contaminants (e.g., environmental tobacco smoke) or developing nationwide policies that address indoor air generally. However, a common European approach to achieving healthy indoor environments is desirable for several reasons including providing a broader recognition of the problem of unhealthy indoor air, setting a policy example for all 27 EU member states, and achieving greater public health equity across the different European nations. In this article we address the question "Why is it so difficult in the EU to develop a coherent approach on indoor environment?" We identify and describe four main barriers: a) the subsidiarity principle in EU policymaking introducing decentralization of decision making to the member states; b) fragmentation of the topic of the indoor environment; c) the differences in climate and governance among different member states that make a common policy difficult; and d) economic issues. We discuss potential lessons and recommendations from EU and U.S. successes in achieving healthier indoor environments through various policy mechanisms.
Subject
Buildings and Infrastructure
Materials Architecture
Built Environment
European Union
Fragmentation
Health
Indoor environment
Open coordination
Policy
Subsidiarity
tobacco smoke
ambient air
article
climate
decision making
environmental exposure
environmental temperature
Europe
European Union
geography
government
health care policy
illumination
noise
priority journal
public health
quality control
Air Pollution, Indoor
Climate
Environmental Health
Europe
European Union
Government Regulation
Housing
Humans
International Cooperation
Nicotiana tabacum
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:c27d7e36-d1a6-4ba0-b6a2-4a1e07dfa079
TNO identifier
239990
ISSN
0091-6765
Source
Environmental Health Perspectives, 115 (6), 983-988
Document type
article