Diagnosing Pollution: Environmental Chemicals as a Health Challenge – From Knowledge to Action

The growing contamination of the environment and ecosystems with chemicals represents one of the greatest, and so far most underestimated, threats to human health. The introduction of novel entities is among the planetary boundaries that have already been exceeded. Today, chemicals are found almost everywhere, in air, water, soils, and consumer products. They not only contribute significantly to biodiversity loss but are already causing a wide range of adverse health effects.

The health sector is particularly affected. On the one hand, it contributes substantially to the release of problematic chemicals, for example through the use of medical devices and pharmaceuticals. On the other hand, it is directly confronted with the health consequences of chemical pollution. Despite this, environmental chemicals remain largely absent from continuing education and training programmes for health professionals, and systemic levers for action are still poorly known.

Funded by the TARGOBANK Foundation, the project “Diagnosing Pollution: Environmental Chemicals as a Health Challenge – From Knowledge to Action” addresses this gap. Its aim is to raise awareness among health professionals of the planetary and health impacts of environmental chemicals, to provide knowledge on risks and regulatory approaches, and to highlight concrete actions within the health sector.

Project Objectives

The project seeks to sensitize health professionals from a range of disciplines — including physicians, nurses, therapists, pharmacy staff, and sustainability officers — to the challenges and health risks associated with environmental chemicals, and to empower them to implement effective measures in their professional practice.

Across three events, the project provides practice-oriented knowledge on concrete actions, such as identifying particularly problematic products and applications in healthcare, as well as strategies to avoid or reduce the use of hazardous chemicals.

Another key objective is to enable participants to engage at the structural and policy level. They are introduced to key regulatory instruments, for example, in relation to “forever chemicals” (PFAS), and encouraged to engage in efforts to strengthen political and regulatory frameworks. The project promotes exchange between health professionals and experts from environmental and nature conservation organisations, and supports long-term engagement through networking with existing volunteer working groups.

The events are complemented by concise fact sheets and a policy brief, which synthesize scientific evidence and regulatory frameworks on chemical management. These materials are designed to ensure that knowledge is sustainably embedded in the health sector and communicated to political decision-makers.

Methodology

The project follows an interdisciplinary and participatory educational approach. During the events, experts from different disciplines and professional backgrounds provide in-depth insights into environmental chemicals, their health impacts, and available policy and practice-oriented response options. A particular focus is placed on good professional practices and concrete examples from healthcare settings that demonstrate how chemical reduction strategies can be successfully implemented.

The content is subsequently consolidated and translated into compact, target-group-oriented fact sheets. The policy brief distils the key findings and translates them into concrete recommendations for political decision-making processes.