Public Health institute (PHI) host the European Federation of Environmental Health (EFEH)

Last weekend (8th and 9th November 2019) saw the Public Health institute (PHI) host the European Federation of Environmental Health (EFEH). The EFEH is a regional branch of the International Federation of Environmental Health, which seeks to a provide means for exchanging information and experience on environmental health works to promote co-operation between countries where environmental health issues are transboundary and to represent the interests of environmental health to state agencies, national governments and international organisations. It comprises of members from both national professional bodies and academia.

The meeting saw 20 delegates from across Europe gather together to explore a range of environmental and public health issues, these ranged from strategies to reduce food waste; holiday health and safety; emergency planning responses; using big data to identify hearing loss and reducing the availability of super-strength alcohol. In addition, the EFEH discussed how to increase the profile of Environmental Health, especially within the World Health Organization.

The EFEH meeting provides an opportunity for LJMU identify and engage with international partners to develop environmental health research projects – work has already started with Professor Susana Paixão of the University of Coimbra, Portugal to consider the health impacts of using small green urban spaces.