Health Impact Assessment Valutazione dell’Impatto sulla salute The effects of fine powder air pollution on the health of the population in Ticino, Switzerland

Health Impact Assessment Valutazione dell’Impatto sulla salute

The effects of fine powder air pollution on the health of the population in Ticino, Switzerland

Switzerland, Country coordinatorDr. med Konrade von Bremen MHEM

IEMSUniversity of Lausanne

Konrade von Bremen, IEMS, Lausanne, Switzerland, April 2006

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Switzerland

7 Million inhabitants

• 65% German speaking

• 19 % French speaking

• 7% Italian speaking• 320.000 inhabitants

• 26 Cantons with – 26 different health care laws.


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HIA in Switzerland

What and where • Switzerland is a crucial region for the North- South transport axis.• Most of the North- South heavy traffic crosses Switzerland on just

one one motorway leading to one of the most polluted areas in Europe

Il Mendrisiotto

ITALIA


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PTM Somma immissioni NO2 in g/mc (proiezione 2010)

Emmission chart of the region


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HIA in Switzerland

Il Mendrisiotto

• The regional transport commission• Is an government instrument for planification of regional

mobility, integrating aspects of territory as well as aspects of environment.

• Composed of representatives of all communities of the region (no professional administrators)


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HIA in Switzerland

Where and what The Italian speaking part as first region first regionhas introduced HIA under the Italian abbreviation VIS Valutazione dell’ impatto sulla salute

Promotor: Department of Health and Social AffairsWith a three level interest:

Operational: Minimize potential negative impact on health.Maximize the potential positive impact on health.

Strategic:Through HIA. Envision the synthesis between the health promoting approach and the sustainable development promoting approach, in order to guide in a coherent manner the mobility sector.

Methodology:Develop a possible methodology model and procedures which can be the basis for other competencies and other areas of application..


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HIA in Switzerland

• Mandate• The transport commission Mendrisiotto asked for an

evaluation of the health impact assessment and the establishment of the methodology providing operational proposals.

• The mandate was a jointly given between the Department of Transport and the Department of Health and Social Affairs.


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The HIA Project Piano dei trasporti del Mendrisiotto

The interviewees

The Department of health and social sciences:1) Responsible member of the unity of promotion and evaluation

2) Head of the section, promotion and evaluation in health,

3) President of the transport commission PTM

4) Studi Associato, pianificazione territoriale, urbanistica e ambientale


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The HIA Project Piano dei Trasporti del Mendrisiotto

Aim of the project:1. Evaluate the methodological possibilities for the integration

of environmental data with health and social impact.

2. Elaborate a methodology which is capable of transforming emission charts into potential negative health effects.

3. Develop a concept of HIA in the field of transport which fits their specific mobility requirements.

4. Elaborate the outline of an HIA, quantifying timeframes and costs and required resources for the implementation of the project


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Aim:• Screening and

Scoping


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• The project was mandated to a small local consulting firm in specialised in urbanistic questions, but not experienced in HIA.

• Studi Associati collaborated with the transport commission and the health department from 2001 to 2005.



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Profiling:How did the idea of conducting an HIA come about ?

Request from the community: the local transport commission asked for an HIA

When did the HIA take place?Between 2001 and 2005

Is the HIA following a formal model or definition ?As the first larger project in the country the task of screening and scoping was given

Was there a steering group? The steering group existed and met regularly 1-2x month

What were the roles and responsibilities of its members ?For the PTM yes, for the HIA no


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Which determinants did the HIA focus on? What where the assumed health impacts ?

• Social status and income• Social support structure • Level of education• Social context• Physical environment (air, water, noise, landscape)• Life style and possibilities to adapt • Biological and genetic heritage• Sex• Culture


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Do you think that the HIA influenced the decision (e.g. policy, programme or project) ?

• All interviewees agreed that the HIA has made a difference, each participant from their point of view

Has the HIA (screening and scoping) achieved its aim?• The methodology to implement the project exists• The resources are known• The political support is now 2006 given


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Dimensions of effectivenessWas the HIA effective in regard to health ?

– The potential health risks are now well known, to all stakeholders– Health determinants are identified – The link between environment and impact on health is fully

established

Was the HIA effective in regard to equity ?– Less developed at this stage of screening an scoping– Community involvement ensures equity to be integrated

Was the HIA effective in regard to community issues ?– Very much, the community was fully involved through the transport

commission.


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The driving force behind the HIA– The transport commission on the local, community side

and the Department of Health and Social Affairs– Leadership was given from the Department of Health and

Social Affairs– The community was fully integrated in the project

The HIA was actually performed by Studi Associati


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Conclusion

• Ticino model for HIA• PTM offered the chance to create a center of competence

for other environment / health projects• Consequences for life style questions • Social networks.• HIA with the PTM combines instruments of

epidemiological research methods and social disciplines.

Documents

Health Impact Assessment Valutazione dell’Impatto sulla salute The effects of fine powder air pollution on the health of the population in Ticino, Switzerland