enHealth Council - Strategy & Implementation Plan

The Human-Environment Interface - Air

Implementation Plan Projects Currently Underway

Part I
Consideration by all levels of government of the interrelationships of health, air pollution and environment, when addressing air pollution issues including land use planning..

Part II
Intersectoral collaboration to minimise the potential for indoor air pollution in a nationally coordinated program, including a research program.

Part III
Indoor Air Quality- A Report on Health Impacts and Management Options.

Issue: Air Part I

Need Addressed (as identified in the National Environmental Health Strategy Implementation Plan):

Consideration by all levels of government of the interrelationships of health, air pollution and environment, when addressing air pollution issues including land use planning.

Jurisdiction: Tasmania

Projects:

Implementation of Health Impact Assessment as part of the development approval process. Formal involvement in NEPC related decision making in Tasmania.

Contact Officers:

Martin Bicevskis, Sen Medical Officer (Occupational and Environmental Health)

Contact Details:

Ph 03 62 2898 martin.bicevskis@dhhs.tas.gov.au

Issue: Air Part II

Need Addressed (as identified in the National Environmental Health Strategy Implementation Plan):

Intersectoral collaboration to minimise the potential for indoor air pollution in a nationally coordinated program, including a research program.

Jurisdiction: Tasmania

Projects:

1. Ongoing discussions with the Australian Building Standards Board regarding standards and indoor air quality.

2. Funding of research into indoor air quality and related issues by Menzies Centre for Population Health Research

Contact Officers:

1. Martin Bicevskis, Sen Medical Officer (Occupational and Environmental Health)

2. Wendy Spencer, (Executive Officer, Menzies Centre)

Contact Details:

Ph 03 62 2898 martin.bicevskis@dhhs.tas.gov.au

Ph 03 62 26 7701 w.spencer@utas.edu.au

Issue: Indoor Air Quality Part III

Need Addressed (as identified in the National Environmental Health Strategy Implementation Plan):

Jurisdiction: Australian Department of Health and Ageing

Projects: Indoor Air Quality- A Report on Health Impacts and Management Options.

The purpose of the document is to enable future public health policy development on the issues of indoor air quality, such as the feasibility or appropriateness of addressing indoor air quality management through setting of health based guidelines or standards for indoor air, or whether other management strategies may be more effective in reducing health impacts from poor quality indoor air.

The document is an assessment of current knowledge in indoor air specifically identifying and addressing health risks associated with poor indoor air quality, and links between health, pollutant exposures and sources of contaminants in the indoor environment. It is intended to inform decision makers so that effective policy and management options may be developed by jurisdictions.

The document was developed through a Department of Health and Ageing consultancy by a consortium from Queensland, managed by the Built Environment Research Unit, Building Division, Queensland Department of Public Works.

The document will be published in August 2000

Contact Officers:

Leo Heiskanen

Contact Details:

Phone: (02) 6289 7792 Fax: (02) 62894215