Environmental health is a global health concept that, according to the One Health1 approach, considers the environment as the result of the integrated interaction between human, animal, and ecosystem components. It is based on a global vision of inseparability and interconnection, in which the health of humans, animals, and the environment are closely interdependent and must be addressed through collaboration between different disciplines (medical, veterinary, environmental, social, and economic). From this perspective, environmental health depends not only on the absence of pollutants, but on a broad set of factors: chemical, physical, and biological (such as toxicity, noise, biodiversity, nutrition), along with elements related to psychophysical well-being (stress, landscape quality, light, odors).
The ultimate goal is to ensure a state of overall well-being, in line with the World Health Organization’s definition of health, understood as physical, mental and social balance, and not simply the absence of disease.2“
A business network was born in Milan on July 28, 2022, from the passion of a group of people and the philanthropic initiative of companies who have decided to make their contribution to safeguarding our future and that of our planet. The network aims to provide an excellent service in scientific consultancy, pursuing the goal of safeguarding the concept of “Global Environmental Health – One Health” by operating to the best of their ability within their area of expertise: Environmental and Health Impact Assessments (EHIA).
The founding companies, by statutory choice, operate primarily with elective collaboration:
of the Working Group of the Department of Environment and Health of IMN, for Health Impact and Damage Assessments with a Toxicological approach coordinated by Dr. Emilio Benfenati;
of the Working Group of the Research Centre in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine of UNINS, for the Epidemiological approach coordinated by Prof. Giovanni Veronesi;
of the Working Group of the Environmental Law Area of SLS, in all its legislative and regulatory aspects, coordinated by Prof. Leonardo Salvemini.
- It is a concept officially recognized by the Italian Ministry of Health, the European Commission, and all international organizations as a relevant strategy in all sectors that benefit from collaboration between different disciplines. https://www.iss.it/en/one-health#:~:text=%22One%20Health%22%20is,%2C%20ISS%20communicated ↩︎
- Key Points of the WHO Definition: Beyond the Biological: Health is not just the body functioning well (absence of disease). Holistic Vision: It includes three inseparable dimensions: physical, mental, and social. Fundamental Right: It is defined as one of the fundamental rights of every human being, without distinction of race, religion, or economic condition. https://www.who.int/ https://www.openpolis.it/parole/che-cose-loms-organizzazione-mondiale-della-sanita/ ↩︎