Issue 36 / July 2011

WHO issues revised drinking-water guidelines to Worldwide, prevent waterborne diseases 13 million deaths Each year, two million people die from waterborne diseases and billions more suffer could be prevented illness – most are children under five. But much of this ill-health and suffering is pre- every year by ventable. People continue to drink unsafe or contaminated water, even though steps to making our prevent a major part of this contamination lie within our reach and means. To address environments this situation, the revised WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality call on govern- ments to strengthen their management of drinking-water quality by adopting a "Water healthier. Safety Planning" approach. When implemented by individual countries, this approach can yield significant and sustainable improvements in public health. It requires a para- digm shift in drinking-water management for many countries. The guidelines require water suppliers to systematically assess the potential risk of contaminants entering water, from the catchment area to the consumer, to take action based on their findings, and document the process. This fourth edition of the guidelines builds on over 50 years of related guidance by WHO, which provides an evidence-based foundation for setting national regulations and standards for water safety in support of public health. The new guidelines are also sup- ported by other WHO documents that substantiate and elaborate its recommendations. These include Pharmaceuticals in drinking-water and Evaluating household water treat- ment options.

Protect yourself from the intense glare of the sun Have you ever been sun burnt? Do you regularly wear sun block? Do you drink more water in the summer months? While a little sun now and then is healthy, continual and intense exposure can have serious consequences. Exposure between 10am and 3pm is dangerous because of the sheer intensity of the sun. While you're in the sun all day having fun, it may be easy to forget about dehydration, skin damage or sunburn until UPCOMING discomfort sets in. And at that stage, trouble has already started. With a warmer climate and rising temperatures, summers promise to test the endurance of everyone who EVENTS dares to go outdoors. You should take precautions for you and your family to avoid sun- 2011 burn, skin cancer, premature ageing of the skin, eye damage (cataracts), and severe dehydration. Exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays appears to be the most important > 21-27 August environmental factor for developing skin cancer. Most people underestimate the conse- quences of sunburn and exposure to the sun, assuming that it does not have a lasting Stockholm World Water effect, even though it can be very detrimental to their health and appearance. Children Week are most vulnerable to the sun and just a few serious episodes of sunburn can increase their risk of skin cancer later in life. Their skin and eyes need protection from the sun's harmful rays. Visit http://www.who.int/uv/sun_protection/en/ and learn more about simple precautions to take in the sun. > 13 September UN General Assembly Climate change: protecting health during heat- waves Every year many people, particularly the elderly, are badly affected by heat. It can trig- ger exhaustion, heart attacks or confusion and can make existing conditions such as cardiovascular or respiratory diseases worse.

Heat-waves of long duration and high intensity have the highest impact on mortality. In nine European cities analysed by the WHO/Europe’s EuroHEAT project (Athens, Barcelona, Budapest, London, Milan, Munich, Paris, Rome and Valencia), the estimated increase in mortality during heat-waves ranged from 7.6% to 33.6%. (contd.)

© World Health Organization 2011. All rights reserved. The impact of prolonged heat-waves (more than four days) was 1.5–5 times that of short ones. The combined effect of heat-waves and of peaks of ozone or PM10 (particulate FACTS AND matter with a diameter under 10 μm) air pollution increases mortality, particularly among elderly people (those aged 75–84 years). The mortality increase due to the com- FIGURES bined effect of heat and air pollution can be reduced by decreasing exposure to PM10 and ozone on hot days. AIR POLLUTION Heat-waves are projected to increase due to climate change, but their health effects are AND HEALTH largely preventable. WHO/Europe’s information package with public health advice on heat-waves for the general public, medical professionals and health services has just Air pollution is a major been revised. Updates and additions address working environments and additional ex- environmental risk to treme events, such as vegetation fires. The package is part of a wider portfolio on pre- health causing around two vention, from health system preparedness coordinated with meteorological early warn- million premature deaths per year worldwide. ing systems, to timely public and medical advice and improvements to housing and urban planning. These actions can be integrated into a heat–health action plan. Exposure to air pollutants Visit Heat-Health Action Plans and read the information package on public health re- is largely beyond the sponse to heat-waves. control of individuals and requires action by public authorities at national, re- gional and even Inadequate housing causes more than 100 000 international levels. The WHO Air quality annual deaths in Europe guidelines are the most Inadequate housing accounts for over 100 000 deaths per year in the WHO European widely agreed and current Region and causes, or contributes to, many preventable diseases and injuries, includ- assessment of the effects ing respiratory, nervous system and cardiovascular diseases and cancer. This is the of air pollution, and include main conclusion of a report, Environmental burden of disease associated with inade- recommended targets for air quality to significantly quate housing. For the first time, this quantitatively-based report addresses many of the reduce health risks. risk factors associated with housing – such as noise, damp, indoor air quality, cold and home safety – and provides guidance on how to quantify the health effects of inade- By reducing particulate quate housing for selected risk factors. The lack of home-safety measures such as matter (PM10) pollution smoke detectors is associated with 0.9 deaths per 100 000 population annually, equiva- from 70 to 20 micrograms lent to more than 7000 entirely preventable deaths each year across the region. People per cubic metre, air quality die of cold at home: low indoor temperatures cause 12.8 deaths per 100 000 population related deaths can be per year; and exposure to radon causes 2–3 deaths per 100 000 population for selected reduced by around 15 per countries. Exposure to second-hand smoke causes 7.3 deaths per 100 000 population; cent. Reduced air pollution and the use of solid fuels as a household energy source without proper ventilation is levels can help countries associated with 16.7 deaths per 100 000 children and 1.1 deaths per 100 000 adults reduce the global burden of disease from respiratory annually. Please see a related press release and WHO/Europe’s website on housing infections, heart disease and health for further information. and lung cancer.

> Air quality and health Preventing the health impacts of glycol ethers fact sheet

The Concise International Chemical Assessment Document (CICAD no. 67), is a com- > WHO Air quality pendium of evaluations of the scientific literature on the health and environmental ef- guidelines fects of four glycol ether chemicals—such as solvents, printing inks, adhesives and cleaners - which are used in various industrial and workplace processes. People are exposed to these chemicals mostly (but not exclusively) in occupational settings and the health impacts of exposure could potentially include adverse effects on the blood or on reproductive health in males without adequate control. The latest CICAD summa- rizes the potential effects of this group of chemicals in a concise format to assist re- sponsible authorities to carry out risk characterization in their local situations. Click here EXPAND for the complete CICADS issue contents list. THE NETWORK SELECTED HEALTH TOPICS FROM New publications WHO’S PUBLIC HEALTH AND Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality, Invite a friend, colleague, ENVIRONMENT WEB SITES fourth edition. organization or network Ultraviolet radiation to subscribe to PHE e-News. Pharmaceuticals in drinking-water Invite them to subscribe by Indoor air pollution sending an email to Evaluating Household Water Treat- More public health and environment topics [email protected] with ment Options the following exact text in the Concise International Chemical As- body of the email: "subscribe REGIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND HealthandEnvironmentNews" sessment Document (CICAD), No. 67 ENVIRONMENT LINKS WHO Regional Office for Africa WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific  Please forward this email to anyone who may be interested in its contents. WHO Regional Office for the Americas  To subscribe to this mailing list, please send an email to [email protected] with the following WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean exact text in the body of your email: "subscribe Health and Environment News". WHO Regional Office for Europe  To unsubscribe from this mailing list, please send an email to [email protected] with the following exact text in the body of your email: "unsubscribe Health and Environment News".