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Background <p>The extractive sector plays a critical role in the implementation of the European Union’s Green Deal, as the transition towards greener policies is expected to increase mining activities across the region. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), mandated by EU Directive 2014/52, function not only as procedural requirements but also as key instruments within national mining permitting and decision-making processes. Although the inclusion of public health considerations is increasingly recognised as important, limited attention has been given to how health is addressed in EIAs in practice. Moreover, there is a lack of standardised, sector-specific tools for assuring the quality of health considerations in mining-related EIAs and Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) in the European context.</p> Methods <p>This study addresses this gap by developing and presenting a sector-specific Quality Assurance Tool (QAT) designed to support the assessment of health-in-EIAs and standalone HIAs in the European mining sector. The development process was informed by a review of existing HIA and health-in-EIA guidelines and evaluation frameworks, followed by an iterative tool design process drawing on materials from mining-related EIAs.</p> Results <p>The review identified 50 HIA and health-in-EIA publications. While these sources demonstrate broad consensus regarding the general steps and principles of the HIA and health-in-EIA processes, none provided a quality assurance tool tailored to the specific health risks, exposures, and regulatory conditions of mining activities in Europe. In response, an eight-step Quality Assurance Tool was developed to support more consistent, transparent, and comprehensive assessment of population health considerations in mining-related HIAs and EIAs.</p> Conclusion <p>The proposed QAT offers a practical and structured resource for planning, training, quality assurance, and accreditation related to health-in-EIA and HIA practice in the mining sector. By supporting review of health considerations, the tool can contribute to improving the quality and transparency of assessments and inform environmental decision-making processes. The QAT provides a foundation for strengthening the integration of public health within environmental assessment and governance in the context of extractive development in Europe.</p>

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Health in environmental impact assessments: development of a quality assurance tool for the European mining sector

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月5日

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  • Elsi Haverinen-Mottaghi,
  • Salla Atkins,
  • Meri Koivusalo

摘要

Background

The extractive sector plays a critical role in the implementation of the European Union’s Green Deal, as the transition towards greener policies is expected to increase mining activities across the region. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), mandated by EU Directive 2014/52, function not only as procedural requirements but also as key instruments within national mining permitting and decision-making processes. Although the inclusion of public health considerations is increasingly recognised as important, limited attention has been given to how health is addressed in EIAs in practice. Moreover, there is a lack of standardised, sector-specific tools for assuring the quality of health considerations in mining-related EIAs and Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) in the European context.

Methods

This study addresses this gap by developing and presenting a sector-specific Quality Assurance Tool (QAT) designed to support the assessment of health-in-EIAs and standalone HIAs in the European mining sector. The development process was informed by a review of existing HIA and health-in-EIA guidelines and evaluation frameworks, followed by an iterative tool design process drawing on materials from mining-related EIAs.

Results

The review identified 50 HIA and health-in-EIA publications. While these sources demonstrate broad consensus regarding the general steps and principles of the HIA and health-in-EIA processes, none provided a quality assurance tool tailored to the specific health risks, exposures, and regulatory conditions of mining activities in Europe. In response, an eight-step Quality Assurance Tool was developed to support more consistent, transparent, and comprehensive assessment of population health considerations in mining-related HIAs and EIAs.

Conclusion

The proposed QAT offers a practical and structured resource for planning, training, quality assurance, and accreditation related to health-in-EIA and HIA practice in the mining sector. By supporting review of health considerations, the tool can contribute to improving the quality and transparency of assessments and inform environmental decision-making processes. The QAT provides a foundation for strengthening the integration of public health within environmental assessment and governance in the context of extractive development in Europe.