Health Impact Assessment

Promoting health across all sectors of activity

Economic sectors such as transport, agriculture and housing have profound impacts on health. For instance, transport is a major factor in traffic injuries, air pollution and noise. But "healthy transport policies" can help reduce these risks, as well as promoting walking and cycling. In agriculture, fertilizers and pesticides may boost crop yields. But wise use is important to protect farm workers and consumers from excessive chemical exposure.

Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a means of assessing the health impacts of policies, plans and projects in diverse economic sectors using quantitative, qualitative and participatory techniques.

HIA helps decision-makers make choices about alternatives and improvements to prevent disease/injury and to actively promote health. WHO supports tools and initiatives in HIA to dynamically improve health and well-being across sectors.

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Housing and Health

International guidance on "healthy housing" should be developed to help prevent a wide range of diseases and unintentional injuries that can be effectively addressed through better housing. This was a key message emerging from an international consultation of 40 experts from 18 countries hosted by WHO in Geneva 13-15 October, 2010.

• Experts call for international guidelines

Health in the Green Economy

Many strategies to reduce climate change have large, immediate health benefits. Others may pose health risks or tradeoffs. Examined systematically, a powerful new dimension of measures to address climate change emerges.

• More information...