Stochastic Exposure and Health Indicators

Abstract

As we saw in the previous Chapters, environmental models provide pollutant concentrations at any point in space-time, but they do not evaluate the actual effects of these pollutants on human health; this is the goal of human exposure analysis. Human exposure analysis involves the study of environmental exposure and its influence on the state of human health. Environmental exposure and health effect are integrated to form a holistic system (§I.1 and §II.1), which is of great importance in environmental health risk assessment. The latter focuses on the characterization of adverse health effects on humans of chemical agents and other hazardous substances in the environment. The concept of a holistic environmental health system is, also, supported by politicians and legislators as the most efficient way for ensuring sustainable development. The European Community, e.g., has recently issued a directive on integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC), which aims to formulate an integrated framework for industrial activities (Papameletiou, 1995) based on the promotion of Best Available Techniques (BAT).

“We accept a truth, only after we have initially rejected it from the bottom of our heart”.

P. Coelho