Environment and health
The concept of environment and health refers to environmentally-related ill-health or health. The environment in Sweden has improved in many respects over the past few decades.
Environmentally-related ill-health caused by air pollution has generally been reduced through stricter requirements on emissions from industries, incineration facilities and traffic. However, there are a number of outstanding problems that may entail health risks for the population. New problems have also arisen such as those associated with greater use in products of chemicals that can be disseminated into the environment. Because of this, work on preventive measures and monitoring developments needs to continue.
Considerable attention is now paid to the environment and health policy area which involves both health and social affairs policies and environmental policy in Sweden.
The ministries and agencies that are involved
Apart from the Ministry of the Environment Development, the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs is the ministry that is primarily involved, but the Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communications and Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries are also relevant here.
Central agencies involved include the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the National Chemicals Inspectorate, the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning, the National Board of Health and Welfare, the National Food Administration and the National Institute of Public Health. Regional and local agencies such as county administrative boards and municipalities will naturally also be involved.
Among research institutes, the Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM) is a natural contact.
