Division 3.3.2.8 Healthy environments (Annex — point 2.2.3)

In line with the European Environment and Health Action Plan^f1, particular focus will be given to the following activities:

• Exchange of best practices in Member States on the prevention and management of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Respiratory diseases such as asthma are one of the most common causes of morbidity in children. WHO Europe identified an important increase of asthma rate for children in Europe. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) found an 11,5 % annual average prevalence of self-reported asthma symptoms in children aged 13-14 years in Europe. Current activities try to reduce the exposure of people to know key risk factors, e.g. tobacco and other air pollutants. It is also important to support Member States' work on the prevention and management of chronic respiratory diseases and identifying and disseminating best practice. This would lead to significantly improving the quality of life of affected people by ensuring appropriate management of the disease and ultimately reducing morbidity.

  [Call for proposals for projects]

• Pilot project on indoor air quality measurements of key pollutants in different settings in EU Member States to test newly developed monitoring protocols. Some Member States already conduct periodical monitoring of indoor air quality. JRC has developed standard protocols on how to conduct monitoring of key indoor air pollutants. These protocols need to be tested/validated with the help of a field campaign. The aim is to provide Member States with reliable, validated tools to conduct monitoring and to achieve a certain level of harmonisation which should deliver reliable and comparable results across Member States.

  [Administrative agreement with JRC]

• Identification of best practices in Member States to improve indoor air quality with reference to heating/cooking and air conditioning systems (maintenance, ventilation etc.). The aim is to provide Member States with good practices on cost benefit measures to improve indoor air quality in homes.

  [Call for proposals for projects]