IOM’s contribution to public health

CONTENT

Green space

Air pollution and air quality

Health impact assessment

Aim health

Public Health England reviews

COVID-19

Green space

Projects:

• HEALS -Health and Environment-wide Associations based on Large population Surveys
• DAPHNE – Delhi Air Pollution and Health Effects

Brief summary of work:

These projects used sensors to collect residential and personal-level air pollution measurements and objective physical activity data in European and South Asian settings. These datasets, along with a common suite of greenspace metrics, were used to examine potential pathways to health involving greenspace. We’ve also completed a systematic review of urban greenspace and respiratory health.

Air pollution and air quality

Projects:

• TAPHIA – Thailand Air Pollution Health Impact
  
• APIC-ESTEE Air pollution and cardiopulmonary health study in Beijing

Brief summary of work:

The TAPHIA project examined air pollution and health in Thailand, including reviews and analyses of biomass burning and health (specifically hospital admissions and birth weight).  The APIC-ESTEE project evaluated impacts of particulate matter on exposure and health, including interventions, particularly facemasks – published papers on effectiveness of facemask use and ethics of use during disasters

Health impact assessment

Projects:

• TAPHIA – Thailand Air Pollution Health Impact Assessment
• Cytotoxic medicinal products (the actual project name was super long)

Brief summary of work:

IOM performed a health impact assessment of long-term exposure to air pollution in Thailand

Open access papers are available here.

AIM health

Projects:

• AIM-HEALTH – agriculture interventions to minimise health impacts of air pollutions

Brief summary of work:

This study investigates the impact of changes to animal housing and manure spreading on agricultural emission of ammonia, particulate matter and bioaerosols. It considers the health and economic impacts of any improvements in emissions, and gathers opinions on the suggested interventions from farmers and other stakeholders. It also gathers data on the benefits and drawbacks of living in rural areas from local residents.

 

Public Health England reviews

Projects:

• Air Quality Rapid Evidence Reviews

Brief summary of work:

These reviews fed into the Public Health England reviews on air pollution interventions and health. IOM led the review on planning/structural interventions and behavioural and contributed to the agriculture and transport reviews.

Open access papers are available here.

COVID-19

Projects:

• The PROTECT COVID-19 National Core Study on transmission and environment
• CSO Project

Brief summary of work:

The PROTECT study examined how SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is transmitted from person to person, and how this varies in different environments and explores: transmission within the food and drink processing industry; the factors affecting use of face coverings amongst workers and members of the public within close contact retail; the transmission risk, route of infection and effect of controls in workplace settings using quantitative microbial risk assessment models (QMRA), Cross sector comparison of key evidence from sector specific research; analysing occupational differences in infection and mortality records using data held on the ONS Secure Research Service; transmission and mitigation measures within energy production. The CSO project involved sampling for SARS-CoV-2 in air and surfaces of hospitals; develop CEMRA model for estimating infection risk from interventions.

Open access papers are available here.