Health Impact Assessment Practice and Potential for Integration within Environmental Impact and Strategic Environmental Assessments in Italy

Nunzia Linzalone, Giorgio Assennato, Adele Ballarini, Ennio Cadum, Mario Cirillo, Liliana Cori, Francesca De Maio, Loredana Musmeci, Marinella Natali, Sabrina Rieti, Maria Eleonora Soggiu and Fabrizio Bianchi
Additional contact information
Nunzia Linzalone: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, via Moruzzi 1, 56127 Pisa, Italy
Giorgio Assennato: Regional Agency for the Protection of the Environment, Apulia Corso Trieste 27, 70126 Bari, Italy
Adele Ballarini: Regional Public Health Service, Emilia-Romagna Viale Moro 21, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Ennio Cadum: Regional Agency for the Protection of the Environment, Piedmont via Sabaudia 164, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
Liliana Cori: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, via Moruzzi 1, 56127 Pisa, Italy
Francesca De Maio: Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, via Vitaliano Brancati 48, 00144 Roma, Italy
Loredana Musmeci: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
Marinella Natali: Regional Public Health Service, Emilia-Romagna Viale Moro 21, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Sabrina Rieti: Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, via Vitaliano Brancati 48, 00144 Roma, Italy
Maria Eleonora Soggiu: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
Fabrizio Bianchi: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, via Moruzzi 1, 56127 Pisa, Italy

IJERPH, 2014, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: Avoiding or minimizing potential environmental impact is the driving idea behind protecting a population’s health via Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs). However, both are often carried out without any systematic approach. This paper describes the findings of a review of HIA, EIA and SEA experiences carried out by the authors, who act as institutional competent subjects at the national and regional levels in Italy. The analysis of how health is tackled in EIA and SEA procedures could support the definition of a protocol for the integration of HIA with EIA and SEA. Although EIA and SEA approaches include the aim of protecting health, significant technical and methodological gaps are present when assessing health systematically, and their basic principles regarding assessment are unsatisfactory for promoting and addressing healthcare concepts stated by the WHO. HIA is still poorly integrated into the decision-making process, screening and monitoring phases are only occasionally implemented, and operational details are not well-defined. The collaborative approach of institutions involved in environment and health is a core element in a systematic advancement toward supporting effective decisions and effective protection of the environment and health. At the Italian national level, the definition of guidelines and tools for HIA, also in relation with EIA and SEA, is of great interest.

Keywords: public health policy; Health Impact Assessment; Environmental Impact Assessment; Strategic Impact Assessment; impact assessment tools; policy decision-making (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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