State General Laboratory Annual Report 2018

39 State General Laboratory Annual Report 2018 Atmospheric Air Quality of outdoor air  Chemical control (Metals (Aluminium, Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Sodium, Zinc, Titanium, Vanadium, Chromium, Maganese, Nickel, Cobalt, Copper, Arsenic, Cadmium, Tin, Barium, Mercury, Lead), Anions (Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides, Nitrates, Phosphates, Sulphates), Cations (Lithium, Sodium, Ammonium, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium), Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) (Benzo(α) anthracene, Benzo(j)fluoranthene, Benzo(b) fluoranthene, Benzo(k)fluoranthene, Benzo(α)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, Benzo(g,h,i) perylene,indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene).  Radioactivity levels (Gamma Radionuclides, Gross β- activity, Gross alpha activity, Ruthenium-106). Environment and Health According to the World Health Organization (WHO), many diseases are associated with human exposure to en- vironmental factors, such as toxic chemicals in the food chain, the environment and consumer products. These diseases are often chronic (e.g. cancer, allergies, asthma, neuro-developmental abnormalities, disorders of the reproductive system) and influence healthy ageing. In addition, the fiscal constraints of the European coun- tries, socioeconomic inequalities, gender inequalities, extreme climatic events, the increase of non-communi- cable diseases, the ageing of the population and the unprecedented migration between and within countries, exacerbate these factors. There is therefore an urgent need to continue and strengthen efforts to address environmental factors that affect health. Recognising that the study of the relationship between environment and health can lead to better public health policy and the prevention of diseases, the SGL implemented several actions in response to commitments arising from European, international and national strategies and action plans, as well as from other national priorities. More specifically the SGL:  From 2004 to 2016, has been actively involved in five research programmes related to "Environment and Health" with funding from: the 6th and 7th EU Framework Programmes for Research (ESBIO, COPHES), the EU’s Life + programme (DEMOCOPHES), the SINPHONIE programme of DG SANTE, the Research Promotion Foundation programme (Homes and Tobacco Free Vehicles), and the Cyprus Ministry of Health (Biomonitoring Programme for Young Children’s Exposure to Cigarette Tobacco).