The inter- and multidisciplinary research area of indoor exposure and health in EU and worldwide covers practical and scientific aspects ranging from technical to medical research disciplines. The overall scientific area can be split into six areas of special focus:

1. exposure measurements,
2. health effects,
3. buildings science and design,
4. exposure modeling,
5. indoor air quality control and
6. exposure risk assessment and management.

Through its activities in the field of indoor human exposure and health, the ECA Network (coordinated and managed by the JRC/IHCP/PCE Unit): (a) provides scientific and technical reference for policy making in the EC, (b) contributes to the integration of research efforts in Europe, (c) ensures capacity building, knowledge dissemination and sharing in EU Member States, the Accession Countries and beyond (for example in 2001 China set up guidelines concerning formaldehyde emissions from wood based materials on the basis of the ECA Reports).

The ECA Steering Committee (coordinated and managed by the JRC/IHCP/PCE Unit) consists of 33 distinguished scientists from 15 EU countries States (plus Norway and Switzerland), WHO and the European Commission. During the 18 years of its operation more than 100 scientists of leading European Institutions have contributed to its activities through their participation in various WGs, prepared and delivered 23 state of the art reports which have been distributed to more than 1400 addresses in Europe and worldwide.

The inter- and multidisciplinary research area of indoor exposure and health in EU and worldwide covers practical and scientific aspects ranging from technical to medical research disciplines. The overall scientific area can be split into six areas of special focus: (a) exposure measurements, (b) health effects, (c) buildings science and design, (d) exposure modeling, (e) indoor air quality control and (f) exposure risk assessment and management.

The inter- and multidisciplinary research area of indoor exposure and health in EU and worldwide covers practical and scientific aspects ranging from technical to medical research disciplines. The overall scientific area can be split into six areas of special focus: (a) exposure measurements, (b) health effects, (c) buildings science and design, (d) exposure modeling, (e) indoor air quality control and (f) exposure risk assessment and management.

For more than 16 years now the European Collaborative Action ECA "Indoor Air Quality & it's Impact on Man" has been implementing a multidisciplinary collaboration of European scientists the ultimate goal of which was the provision of healthy and environmentally sustainable buildings. To accomplish this task ECA has dealt with all aspects of the indoor environment including thermal comfort, pollution sources, the quality and quantity of chemical and biological indoor pollutants, energy use, and the ventilation processes, which may all interact with indoor air quality.

The focus of the activity is urban & indoor air pollution exposure assessment, seen as part of human health risk assessment and also considering the needs of urban and indoor air quality management. Specific examples of the working areas of ECA are:

Joint Research Centre

The mission of the JRC is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the Union. Close to the policymaking process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national.

 

Institute for Health and Consumer Protection

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