Health and Environment Geographic Information Systems (HEGIS) for Europe and Requirements for Indicators

The main principles of HEGIS consist of geographic environmental monitoring, health surveillance and health risk assessment of environmental hazards. Principle priorities are: contaminated food and water; ambient air and indoor air pollution; urban health and occupational health. The application of health-related environment indicators (definable environmental conditions or trends which suggest potential harmful health effects and environment) and related health indicators (health outcomes which suggest an environmental cause, or a contribution from environmental factors) are recommended to characterize health risk and/or to identify possible environmental factors responsible for adverse health effects.